Eastern Beardtongue
Penstemon laevigatus
Eastern Beardtongue sends up tall spikes of white to pale lavender tubular flowers in late spring, each blossom striped with faint purple lines that guide bumblebees deep inside. Watch one bee working a spike and you'll understand why this genus is called 'beardtongue'. the bee disappears into the flower, works the interior, and backs out dusted in pollen. It's one of the more satisfying pollinator plants to observe up close. The basal rosette of glossy green leaves is semi-evergreen, staying attractive through winter in milder climates. It does well in average to dry garden soils, making it a good choice for slopes and areas where watering is difficult. Plant it mid-border where the basal foliage shows through winter and the flower spikes rise above surrounding plants in May and June.
We grow a range of sizes and prices. Add the plant to your list, then pick your size when you visit.
Final price confirmed at pickup, depends on size and season.
- Thu, Jul 238 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Jul 248 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Jul 258 AM – 2 PM
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown eastern beardtongue propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Dry
- Mature size
- 1.5'–3'
- Bloom
- Late spring blooms (May–June); semi-evergreen basal rosette through winter
- USDA zones
- 5–9
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside eastern beardtongue.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle 9–12 species that work together. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Butterfly Package
Host and nectar plants chosen to feed monarchs, swallowtails, and fritillaries spring through fall.
Hummingbird Package
Tubular-flowered natives that pull ruby-throats through your yard April through October.
S.O.S. Package
Save Our Songbirds, berry- and seed-bearing natives that feed nesting and migrating birds.