Alberta Beardtongue

Penstemon albertinus

Alberta Beardtongue is a pretty flower with bright purple blooms. It loves to grow in sunny places and can attract butterflies and bees, making gardens colorful and lively!

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Alberta Beardtongue has striking tubular flowers, usually a vivid blue-violet or lavender, with two lips and a fuzzy 'tongue' inside. Its narrow, green leaves grow in clumps, creating a beautiful splash of color in rocky habitats.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderLamialesFamilyPlantaginaceaeGenusPenstemon

Photo: Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USACC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Alberta Beardtongue

Interesting facts

Its 'beardtongue' is not a real tongue but a fuzzy, sterile stamen!

Over 250 different kinds of Beardtongues exist in North America!

Some bees buzz-pollinate its flowers, shaking out pollen like salt from a shaker!

This tough beauty is named after the Canadian province of Alberta.

Special abilities

Alberta Beardtongue has tube-shaped flowers and nectar guides that skillfully attract specific long-tongued bees and hummingbirds for pollination.

This tough plant can grow in harsh, rocky soil and high elevations, using a strong root system to anchor itself firmly.

Its unique 'beardtongue' (a sterile stamen) acts like a fuzzy landing strip and guides pollinators deep inside the flower.

Measurements & details

Height: 20-50 cm
Spread: 15-30 cm
Flower Size: 2-4 cm
Bloom Season: Late spring to mid-summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

Pollinates

Two-form Bumble Bee

Bombus bifarius

Collects nectar and pollen from flowers.

Pollinates

Rufous Hummingbird

Selasphorus rufus

Visits flowers for sweet nectar.

Pollinates

Monarch Butterfly

Danaus plexippus

Sips nectar, helping spread pollen.

Traits

Bell-Shaped Flower

Bell-shaped flowers possess petals fused or arranged to form a cup-like or campanulate structure resembling a bell.

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Tube Flower

A tube flower has petals fused together at the base, forming a distinct tubular structure that typically holds nectar deep within.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Grassland

Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Plants

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't pick flowers, so everyone can enjoy them!

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Alberta Beardtongue?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How tall is Alberta Beardtongue?

20-50 cm

How wide does Alberta Beardtongue spread?

15-30 cm

How big are the flowers on Alberta Beardtongue?

2-4 cm

When does Alberta Beardtongue bloom?

Late spring to mid-summer

Is Alberta Beardtongue edible?

Is Alberta Beardtongue toxic?

None

What is Alberta Beardtongue's lifecycle?