Beard-Tongue
Penstemon species. SCROPHULARIACEAE.
Planting and Growing Beard-Tongue
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow beard-tongue in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of beard-tongue
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for beard-tongue
- Season of bloom and planting time for beard-tongue
- When, how deep, and where to plant beard-tongue
- How to plant beard-tongue
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of beard-tongue
- Landscape and container uses of beard-tongue
- Comments about beard-tongue and its features
Growing Beard-Tongue
About 250 species of upright or rounded, deciduous perennial herbs or woody shrubs, 2–3 ft. (60–90 cm) tall. Opposite, mostly shiny, green, lance-shaped leaves, 2–4 in. (50–100 mm) long, in whorls.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Many pink, purple, red, white, bicolored with white, tubular or trumpet-shaped, flared flowers, 1–1‑1/2‑in. (25–38‑mm) long, with delicately spotted, hairy throats and lower lips, in spring–summer.
Best Climates
Hardy. Zones 3–10, depending on species.
Soil Type and Fertility
Damp, very well-drained, sandy soil. Fertility: Average. 5.5–6.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in full sun to partial shade, 12–18 in. (30–45 cm) apart, after soil warms.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep damp; allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Drought tolerant. Fertilize monthly during active growth. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom. Protect from standing water, heat. Propagate by cuttings, division, seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for beds, borders, edgings, fencelines, paths in cottage, meadow, rock, wildlife, woodland gardens. Attracts birds, hummingbirds. Pest and disease resistant.