Foxglove beardtongue

Penstemon digitalis

White tubes that bumblebees disappear into.

Type: herb or perennial · native and wild plants
Hardiness: zones 3 to 8
Light: full sun to part shade
Size: about 3 ft tall, 1.5 ft wide
From: E. North America
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.

Good for: pollinators, butterfly and moth caterpillars.

Native to: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest & Great Lakes, Great Plains & Texas, Eastern Canada. Hardy in zones 3 to 8.

The story

Foxglove beardtongue gets its odd name from the fuzzy, tongue-like stamen lying in the throat of each flower. Purple lines inside the white tube guide bees in like runway lights.

Planting

Sun or light shade and average soil, including clay. It is one of the easiest native perennials.

Growing

Cut the stalks after bloom or leave the handsome seed heads. Divide every few years.

Harvest and use

June flowers for bumblebees, mason bees and hummingbirds. The basal leaves stay maroon-green all winter.

What to watch for

It reseeds a little. Short-lived in wet soil.

See if Foxglove beardtongue fits your yard
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More native and wild plants

General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home