Penstemon 'Blackbeard' Beardtongue

Penstemon 'Blackbeard' is a hardy herbaceous perennial grown for its colorful foliage and flowers. Beginning in early summer, tall flower stems bloom for weeks in lilac purple flowers with white flaring tubes. They are held aloft a low mound of deep eggplant purple foliage, which stays gorgeous and upright all season long. The flowers are nectar and pollen rich and attract pollinators, especially bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. They make excellent cut flowers for floral arrangements. Dark burgundy seed pods follow the flowers, extending the season of interest.

A Penstemon digitalis, commonly called beardtongue or foxglove beardtongue, 'Blackbeard' has a moderately vigorous growth rate and an upright clumping habit of strong, tightly compact stems that emerge from the base each spring. The plant makes an excellent specimen or container plant but is shown to best effect when massed or grouped in beds or borders. It's a natural for a pollinator garden and great for naturalizing. Agastache, coreopsis, dianthus, echinacea, panicum, and sedum are good companions for penstemon.

Cold hardy and easy to grow, beardtongues grow best in sunny locations with very well-drained soil. The plants thrive in heat and humidity; tolerate drought very well; and are rarely bothered by insects or diseases.

A native plant, penstemon is indigenous to North America. Native plants are not only beautiful but also environmentally friendly. Naturally adapted to the climate and soil conditions of the region, they thrive without fertilizers or extra watering, once established. They also act as natural pest controls, reducing the need for pesticides in the garden. Landscaping with native plants promotes biodiversity and provides shelter and quality food for wildlife and pollinators, bringing gardens to life.