hairy beardtongue
A trumpet-shaped, lavender flower that blooms throughout most of the growing season.
Penstemon hirsutus (Hairy beardtongue) gets its name their long, thin blooms have five petals with hairy lower lip that evokes the species’ common name. Clusters of flowers cover the top half of the stems in summer, while opposite leaves turn a beautiful red in the fall.
It is also great at attracting pollinators from long-tongued bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Other pollinators find it more difficult to get nectar from the inch-long tubes. The caterpillars of the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly feed on the leaves as they grow and gain strength to become butterflies.
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Botanical Name | Penstemon hirsutus |
Common Name | hairy beardtongue |
Family | Plantaginaceae |
USDA Zone | 3 thru 9 |
Light Requirement | Full Sun to Part Shade |
Season(s) of interest | spring, summer, fall, winter |
Height and Spread | 1-1.5ft x 0.5-1ft (30-45cm x 15-30cm) |
Flower Color | Pink |
Attracts Wildlife | Hosts Caterpillars of Butterflies/Moths, Attracts Pollinators, |
Additional Information | Native to Chicago Region. Native range: Nova Scotia to Minnesota, South to Texas and Virginia. |
Location in Lurie Garden | Southeast Light Plate, Northwest Light Plate |
Average Flowering Time