
Light Needs

Mature Height

Mature Spread

Growing Zones
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.
Rock Candy Purple Beardtongue Information
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 - 8 |
Plant Type: Perennials |
Light Exposure: Full Sun (At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
Mature Height: 1 Feet |
Mature Spread: 1 Feet |
Spacing: 1 Feet |
Habit: Upright |
Flower Color(s): Purple |
Flower Description: Purple Shaades |
Bloom Period: Spring to Summer |
Foliage Type: Evergreen, Herbaceous |
Foliage Color(s): Green |
Foliage Description: Green Shades |
Seasonal Interest: Spring Flowering, Summer Flowering |
Watering: Average |
Resists: Deer, Rabbit |
Tolerates: Heat, Drought |
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies |
Container Role: Filler |
Uses: Borders, Containers, Mass Planting |
Features: Attracts Pollinators, Cut Flowers |
Brand: Proven Winners |
Common Name: Rock Candy Purple Beardtongue |
Other Name(s): |
Scientific Name: Penstemon barbatus |
- SKU:
- PENPU
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.

Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts

Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts

Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts

Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons

Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons

Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons

We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2025 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.

Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
---|---|
Zone 10 | March 31th |
Zone 9 | March 31st |
Zone 8 | April 7th |
Zone 7 | April 14th |
Zone 6b | April 21st |
Zone 6a | April 28th |
Zone 5b | May 5th |
Zone 5a | May 12th |
Zone 4 | May 19th |
Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: Idaho, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!