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Plantaginaceae
Beardlip Penstemon
Penstemon barbatus
Wild freedom.
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Genus
- Penstemon
- Native to
- Southwestern United States, Mexico
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Type
- perennial herb
- Height
- 1.5-3 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- well-drained, sandy, rocky
- Water
- low
- Hardiness
- 4-9
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- The name 'beardlip' refers to the hairy sterile stamen (staminode) that protrudes from the flower's lower lip.
- It is one of the most important hummingbird flowers in the American Southwest, with its tubular red blooms perfectly shaped for them.
- Penstemon is the largest genus of flowering plants endemic to North America, with over 270 species.
- The Navajo used a decoction of the roots to treat a variety of ailments including stomachaches and fevers.
- Unlike many wildflowers, it readily adapts to garden cultivation and was one of the first penstemons grown in European gardens.
Color meanings
0
freedom
1
wildness
2
attraction