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Plantaginaceae
Hairy Beardtongue
Penstemon hirsutus
Eastern wilderness.
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Genus
- Penstemon
- Native to
- Eastern North America
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Type
- perennial herb
- Height
- 1-3 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun to part shade
- Soil
- dry to moderately moist, rocky or sandy, well-drained
- Water
- low
- Hardiness
- 3-9
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- The genus name Penstemon means 'five stamens' in Greek — four are fertile; the fifth is a sterile staminode covered in yellow hairs that gives the whole genus the name 'beardtongue.'
- Hairy beardtongue is one of the most cold-hardy of all eastern penstemons, surviving winters as far north as USDA Zone 3 (−40°F).
- The tubular, two-lipped flowers are designed specifically for bumblebees, which must force their way inside to reach the nectar, picking up pollen in the process.
- Unlike many penstemons, P. hirsutus thrives in the humid summers of eastern North America, making it among the most garden-adaptable species for the eastern US.
- The entire plant — stems, leaves, and calyx — is covered in fine glandular hairs, giving it a slightly sticky texture and the 'hirsutus' (hairy) species name.
Color meanings
0
steadfastness
1
natural heritage
2
modest grace