Native Plant of the Week: Large Flowered Beardtongue ~ Penstemon grandiflorus

Large Flowered Beardtongue ~ Penstemon grandiflorus


The Large Flowered Beardtongue is one of the showiest Penstemon species in our garden. The large light purple tubular flowers are very attractive and are set off by the silvery-gray clasping leaves.

A short-lived perennial (sometimes biennial) readily self seeds so you will usually have this native flowering each year. It thrives in our sandy soils in full sun, the poorer the soil the better. A nice companion right now with our native Lupines which are also in full bloom.

This native is very effective utilized in a mass planting, attracting many bee species who work their way up the tubular flowers. After the flowers are finished the silver foliage continues to be an attractive feature.

We have grown it successfully from seed and have since collected seed from our plants are resown it in different areas of our landscape.

Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP).
2011. North American Plant Atlas. Chapel Hill, N.C.

See map below for native range.