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Hairy Penstemon Penstemon hirsutus

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
PEN-stem-on her-SOO-tus
Description

Hairy beardtongue is a compact, flowering, herbaceous perennial in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) native to the dry woods and rocky fields of eastern Canada and the United States, but not to North Carolina and states south to Florida. The plant is characterized by its erect, hairy stems, and usually, several stems can be found growing from the same rhizome. The plant boasts open, stalked clusters of lavender to violet, trumpet-shaped flowers with whitish lips that blossom from May to July. The Beardtongues are a very large, taxonomically complex group and separating the species is often difficult. The hirsutus species is readily distinguished, however, by the downy nature of the stem. The common and scientific names refer to the tufted sterile stamen.

Hairy beardtongue does best in a thin, well-drained, usually dry soil and will tolerate full sun to partial shade. If grown in the garden, you can use mulch to control weeds, and cut the spent flower stems back after blooming. It does self-seed but does not spread aggressively.

This plant is a particularly valuable source of nectar for bumble bees.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Pygmaeus'
    Dwarf version of Hairy Beardtongue.
'Pygmaeus'
Tags:
#purple flowers#rhizomes#herbaceous perennial#flowers early summer#compact habit#fall color#erect
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Pygmaeus'
    Dwarf version of Hairy Beardtongue.
'Pygmaeus'
Tags:
#purple flowers#rhizomes#herbaceous perennial#flowers early summer#compact habit#fall color#erect
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Penstemon
    Species:
    hirsutus
    Family:
    Plantaginaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern Canada and the United States south to Virginia.
    Distribution:
    Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    Wildlife Value:
    Food plant for bees, wasps, butterflies, skippers, and moths.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Trumpet
    Tubular
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Open, stalked clusters of lavender to violet, trumpet-shaped, slender flowers with whitish lips. The flowers are slender, about an inch long and the mouth is nearly closed by the arched base of the lower lip.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Velvety
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Oblong
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Opposite, stemless lance-shaped leaves with toothed margins.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Erect, usually several, puberulent above, glabrous or often villous below
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Moths