Foxglove Beardtongue

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Full Sun

(At Least 3 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

3-5 Feet

Mature Spread

1-2 Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 8

Foxglove beardtongue is an often overlooked native plant that has all of the attributes local pollinators love. This perennial features loose flower spikes of dainty but long-lasting tubular flowers and foliage that remains evergreen in warmer growing zones. The early blooming flowers have a high nectar content and are particularly useful for mason bees and other native bee species that have difficulty finding nectar in the period between April and June. 

Foxglove beardtongue has a mounded rosette of foliage that hugs the ground while the flower spikes lend a strong vertical element to any garden bed. Add it to the middle of a pollinator bed or cottage garden border. This would be stunning in a white and green garden where the flowers would shine during the twilight hours. Penstemon digitalis is deer resistant and able to easily recover from rabbit damage early in the growing season. This hardy native is also very disease resistant.

Foxglove Beardtongue Care

Although foxglove beardtongue prefers soil on the acidic side of the pH scale, it tolerates all soil types. To improve the nutrient content of the soil, add a layer of organic compost annually around the root zone. The mulch will also help to suppress weeds and aid in moisture retention of the soil. Choose a location in the garden that has full to partial sun exposure. Watering well until the plants have established a strong root system is important.  Supplemental watering during periods of high heat or prolonged dryness will be necessary. 

Foxglove Beardtongue will not require much pruning other than removing spent foliage in late winter or early spring. You can also remove spent flowers to prevent foxglove beardtongue from self-seeding. The seeds are easily saved for growing the following year. You can also divide this perennial to multiply your plant stock as well as reinvigorate the parent plant. Dividing and transplanting is best done early in the spring as new shoots appear. 

Growing foxglove beardtongue in a container is an effective way to create a small pollinator station for a deck or balcony if you do not have a large garden. Create a mixed container with other pollinator plants like nasturtium, African daisies, and sweet alyssum for cheerful blooming display. 

Foxglove Beardtongue Spacing

Foxglove beardtongue grows to be a medium-sized perennial with a height of 3-5 feet (when in bloom) and a width of up to 2 feet. Give the plants plenty of space to spread and multiply by spacing plants 18 inches apart. Container-grown plants thrive in pots with at least a 12-inch diameter if grown singly. Pots with an 18-inch diameter can be used for a mixed seasonal planting.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

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1231020454-pc