Penstemon
ExplorePlants
Penstemon
Penstemon
Penstemon is a colorful flower that attracts bees and butterflies with its vibrant petals. It blooms in various shades like pink, purple, and red, adding beauty to gardens and meadows.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Penstemon has showy, tubular, often two-lipped flowers clustered on tall spikes. Its vibrant blooms come in shades of purple, blue, pink, red, or white, creating a striking visual against green foliage.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassSpermatophytaOrderLamialesFamilyScrophulariaceaeGenusPenstemon
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Its common name, "Beardtongue," refers to the fuzzy, sterile stamen inside each flower!
Penstemon plants can grow in habitats ranging from hot deserts to cold mountain tops!
Some Penstemon species can actually change their flower color as they get older.
There are over 270 different kinds of Penstemon, mostly found across North America!
Special abilities
Ability
Pollinator Beacon
Penstemon can attract hummingbirds and bees with its brightly colored, tubular flowers that offer sweet nectar.
Ability
Beard Guide
Penstemon has a fuzzy fifth stamen, called a staminode, that guides pollinators deep into its flower for nectar.
Ability
Drought Buster
Many Penstemon species can survive dry conditions thanks to their tough, water-wise roots and foliage.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 15-150 cm
- Spread
- 30-90 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to late summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Common Eastern Bumblebee
Bombus impatiens
Drinks nectar and collects pollen
pollinates
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
Feeds on nectar with its long beak
pollinates
Monarch Butterfly
Danaus plexippus
Visits flowers for sweet nectar
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.
Tube Flower
A tube flower has petals fused together at the base, forming a distinct tubular structure that typically holds nectar deep within.
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.
Also known as
Beardtongue
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Enjoy the beauty of Penstemon flowers from a safe distance and avoid picking them in the wild.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Penstemon?
15-150 cm
How wide does Penstemon spread?
30-90 cm
How big are the flowers on Penstemon?
1-5 cm
When does Penstemon bloom?
Late spring to late summer
Is Penstemon edible?
No
Is Penstemon toxic?
None
What is Penstemon's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Penstemon pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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