FoliageBeardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) is a fast-growing perennial, hardy in USDA zones 3-8, that matures to about 3-5 ft × 1.5-2 ft. It does best in full sun with low water needs in well-drained, moist and occasionally-dry soil. Expect purple and white blooms in spring and summer. It attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators, stands up well to drought and dry soil.
- USDA zones
- 3-8
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Low
- Mature size
- 3-5 ft × 1.5-2 ft
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maintenance
- Medium
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally-dry
- Bloom color
- Purple, White
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Attracts
- Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Pollinators, Songbirds, Bees
- Tough against
- Drought, Dry soil
- Native to
- Eastern and southeastern United States
In the landscape
Data sources
Freeze survival
Will it survive your winters?
Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Beardtongue is hardy to about -40°F (estimated from USDA zone 3), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
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