Foxglove Beardtongue

Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)

Foxglove Beardtongue brings clean, vertical bloom and a calm, natural look to sunny borders without feeling stiff or formal. In late spring to early summer, tall spikes of white tubular flowers rise above fresh green foliage, adding height and a bright, airy layer. It is an easy perennial to weave into mixed plantings because it reads as light and structured at the same time. Once established, it handles typical garden conditions well and rewards you with strong pollinator activity.

Distinctive Features

This clump-forming native perennial produces upright stems topped with showy, two-lipped white flowers that often have a subtle soft blush. The foliage forms a tidy base, and the bloom spikes add vertical rhythm that pairs well with mounded perennials and ornamental grasses. After flowering, it develops decorative seed capsules that can add seasonal texture if left in place. Overall size is typically 3 to 5 feet tall with a spread around 18 to 24 inches, depending on site and moisture.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to part shade, with best flowering in full sun.
• Soil: Well-drained soil with average fertility, tolerating clay if drainage is reasonable.
• Water: Medium moisture during establishment, then dry to medium moisture with occasional deep watering in extended drought.
• Zones: USDA Zones 3 to 8.
• Notable Traits: Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds and is often deer resistant.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Plant a small group in the mid-border as a spring focal point that lifts the entire bed with crisp white flower spikes.
• Mixed Borders: Combine with coneflowers, salvias, and grasses for a layered look that stays natural and intentional.
• Meadows: Use in native-style plantings where vertical bloom helps add structure and seasonal pacing.
• Rain Garden Edges: Place on the shoulder of moisture-holding areas where soil stays evenly moist but not soggy.

Low Maintenance Care

• Deadheading: Remove spent flower spikes to tidy the plant and reduce self-seeding if desired.
• Cutback: Cut stems back after flowering or leave seed capsules for interest, then cut to the ground in late winter or early spring.
• Watering: Water during prolonged heat and drought to support stronger regrowth and flowering the next season.
• Division: Divide clumps in spring every few years if growth becomes crowded or flowering declines.

Why Choose Foxglove Beardtongue?

• Early Season Bloom: Brings a strong late spring to early summer flower show when many perennials are just getting started.
• Vertical Structure: Adds height and rhythm that makes borders look designed without adding heaviness.
• Pollinator Value: Supports hummingbirds and a wide range of beneficial insects with nectar-rich blooms.
• Garden Toughness: Tolerates a range of soils and handles moderate drought once established when drainage is good.

Foxglove Beardtongue is a dependable backbone plant for sunny beds, offering clean bloom spikes, good texture, and strong wildlife value. Give it sun, reasonable drainage, and a little moisture during establishment, and it will settle in confidently. It looks especially good repeated in drifts, where the white flowers create a calm thread through the border. If you want a native perennial that feels polished and easy, this one fits the job.