How to Grow Penstemon Flowers / Beardtongue

About Growing Penstemon Plants in Your Flower Garden

You will just love growing perennial Penstemon flowers. Also called Beardtongue flowers, they are native to the hills and mountain regions of California. There are a couple of hundred species of beautiful Penstemon plants. And, you aren’t the only one who loves them.. Hummingbirds love them, too. Do you suppose that gardeners and homeowners alike, love these trumpet-shaped flowers because they attract hummingbirds!? ……..Hmmmmmmm.

Penstemon is a highly attractive and popular flowering plant. Trumpet-shaped blooms, on this perennial plant, come in white, red, pink, purple, and lavender. When in bloom, they will attract hummingbirds to your yard and flower beds.

The most popular variety of Penstemon grows two to three feet tall. They look good in beds and borders. Make sure to grow them within sight of your window or deck, where you can watch the hummingbirds, as they visit the flowering blooms.

Penstemon makes good-cut flowers for use in indoor arrangements.

Penstemon Flower Plant Propagation

Flower Colors: Blue, orange, pink, purple, red, white, and yellow.

Flowers Bloom: Summer through Fall

Plant height: 24″ – 30″

Ideal Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.0.

Hardiness Zones: 3 – 8

Light Requirements: Bright, full sunlight.

Hardiness Zone: 7 – 10.

Toxicity: Some species are non-toxic to humans, pets, and farm animals.

Deer Resistant? Yes. The bitter taste of the leaves makes them resistant to deer, rabbits, and other foraging animals.

Native To: North America

Plant Type: Perennial

Botanical Name: Penstemon Gloxiniodes

Other Names: Beardtongue

Are Penstemon Plants (Beardtongue) Edible?

YES and NO

Some species are edible. Others are mildly toxic. As a result, we do not recommend consuming them. The leaves are somewhat bitter.

Medicinal Applications for Penstemon Plants

Penstemon has a number of medicinal uses. Here are some of the home remedies:

Chew the root to ease toothaches.
The outer bark is used in a home remedy to treat stomach ailments.
It prevents inflammation and speeds up the healing of open wounds.
The stems are used to treat cuts, sores, and wounds.

Important Note: Because some species of this plant are toxic, we recommend you do not use the plant to make home remedies with the proper training to assure that you are using non-toxic species.

Light Requirements

For the best results, grow Penstemon plants in bright, full sunlight. Select a growing location where the plants will receive at least seven or eight hours

Too little sunlight results in weak flower stalks that fall over and can break.

Penstemon Plant Propagation

Penstemons are grown from seeds. Sow Penstemon seeds directly into your flower garden after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. Or, start them indoors. Place these small seeds at the top of the loose soil, and water lightly into the soil.

Perennial Penstemon can also be propagated by rhizomes. We recommend you dig up and divide the plants every 3-5 years. Simply dig up mature rhizomes, and replant them. Make sure to offer some of these attractive flowers to your gardening friends.

Days to Germination: 7 – 14 days.

About Seed Germination

How to Grow Penstemon Flower Plants

Penstemon plants are easy to grow. They prefer full sun but will tolerate partial shade. It is a cool-weather plant. If you live in hotter areas of the country, plant them in partial shade.

Penstemon plants need well-drained soil. They thrive in loose, gravelly soil, and will do best in raised beds, or on hillsides and slopes.

Final Plant Spacing: Space or thin plants to about 18″ apart.

Water plants during dry periods. The plant’s roots do not go deeply. Water to a depth of three to four inches. Allow the soil to dry between watering.

Add general purpose fertilizer when planting, and every four to six weeks during the season. Switch to a high phosphorous formula just before the blooming period.

Keep the areas weeded when plants are young. Then, apply a layer of mulch. This will help keep weeds down and give a neat and tidy appearance.

Cut spikes when in full bloom, and place them in your favorite vase. Or, leave them in the flowerbed to attract hummingbirds. After blooming, cut back spent flower spikes. This will promote re-blooming.

When the season is over, cut the plants back. Add a layer of mulch in colder regions, to protect the rhizomes over the winter.

How to Grow Penstemon Flowers in Containers

When you think about flowers to grow in containers on your patio or deck, Penstemon are not the first flowers people normally think of. However, there’s a big reason to do so. They attract hummingbirds. So, if you’re a hummingbird lover, Plan to grow them this year.

Like any container-grown plant, they need a little more care and attention. In addition to normal plant care, here’s how to grow Penstemon flowers in containers:

Select a sunny to partly sunny location on your deck.
It is important to have a drain hole to allow excess water to drain from the pot.
Keep an eye on the moisture level. Check the plants every day or two, especially in extended periods of hot, dry weather.
Keep the soil moist, but not wet. It is okay to let the top of the soil begin to dry between watering.
When watering the plants, thoroughly wet the soil. Excess water will drain through the hole in the bottom of the flowerpot.
Nutrients in a flowerpot are limited. So, use fertilizer spikes to feed the plants. Or, apply a light solution of liquid fertilizer once a month.

How to Prune Penstemon (Beardtongue) Plants

Penstemon plants do not need pruning. However, removing any dead or damaged leaves will improve the plant’s appearance.

Deadheading spent blooms will encourage new blooms, if they are removed early enough in the growing season. Use sharp pruning shears to remove the flower stem where it meets the stem of the plant.

Insects and Plant Disease

Insect problems are uncommon.

Perennial penstemon can see a variety of fungal diseases. Watch for plant disease and treat with a fungicide as soon as possible.

Also see: Plant Problems – Identify the causes and find the cures.

Overwintering Penstemon Plants

After the first frost in your area, cut Beardtongue plants back to near the ground. Alternately you can cut them back in the early spring.

In most areas of the country, Penstemon plants overwinter just fine. In areas that experience harsher winters, apply a thick layer of mulch to insulate the roots.