Rock Candy Purple Beardtongue

Light Needs

Full Sun

(6+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

1 Foot

Mature Spread

1 Foot

Growing Zones

5 to 8

Rock Candy Purple Beardtongue features gorgeous panicles of showy, bell-shaped, royal purple florets that dance in the wind. With their ivory-stroked throats, Rock Candy Purple Beardtongue’s blooms emerge in spring and continue to flower until summer, supporting hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. This wildflower, otherwise known as Penstemon barbatus, grows to heights and spreads of 12 inches and is easy to grow and low maintenance.

A compact selection, Rock Candy Purple Beardtongue adds bright color to smaller spaces. In containers, this ornamental upgrades patios and porches with purple pizazz. Plant this beardtongue en masse in borders and beds to add a dramatic swath of color. Native to areas of Mexico and the United States, this drought- and heat-tolerant wildflower is rabbit and deer resistant and cold hardy in zones 5-8. Trim some of its striking flowers to enjoy its beauty indoors. 

Rock Candy Purple Beardtongue Care

This perennial wildflower tolerates various soil types, but prefers well-draining, slightly acidic, sandy to average soil, with a pH somewhere between 5.5 and 6.5. Add compost or grit if the ground does not appear to drain well. To keep the plant healthy and help it bloom a lot, put it in full sun and give it about an inch of water each week. Fertilize Rock Candy Purple Beardtongue lightly with a balanced fertilizer in autumn.

Rock Candy Purple Beardtongue does not require frequent pruning. To support bigger and better flowers, deadhead spent blooms throughout the blooming season. Once the foliage dies back, cut back all growth to 2-3 inches in early autumn. 

If growing in a container, select a pot with excellent drainage and fill with potting soil amended with sand, grit, or perlite; provide one inch of water per week.

Rock Candy Purple Beardtongue Spacing

Space Rock Candy Purple Beardtongue 12 inches apart. Plant it as a specimen or en masse with dahlias, lamb’s ear, and salvia in rock, alpine, or wildflower gardens. Include this herbaceous perennial as a filler or thriller in a thriller-spiller-filler container combination.

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