Beardtongue Foxglove (Penstemon digitalis)
Perennial
Seed Count: approx. 150
Days to Germinate: 30 days of cold, moist stratification. See: Winter Sowing & Stratification
Depth to Sow: 1/4"
Seed Spacing: When seedlings are 2" high, thin to 1' apart
Color: White to light pink
Height: 2' to 4'
Bloom Time: June - July
Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun
Soil Moisture: Medium to moderately dry soil
Soil Type: Prefers acidic, fertile, well-drained loamy soil, clay or sand
Attracts: Butterflies, hummingbirds, song birds, native bees
Natural Habitat: Low moist areas, prairies, open woodlands
Drought Tolerance: High
Deer Resistance: High
Larval Host: Chalcedon Checkerspot and Edith's Checkerspot butterflies
Native Zone: AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV
Pure Live Seed (PLS) Viability Value: 80.88%
Description:
Beardtongue Foxglove matures to 3' in height and has white to pink tubular, uneven five-lobed flowers in stalked clusters. Flowers rise in pairs from the upper leaf branches. It prefers medium to dry medium soils but can adapt to many light conditions: full sun to part shade such as clearings within forests, woods' edges, and savannas. It is very easy to grow from seed.
The tubular flowers of this plant attracts hummingbirds, honeybees, native long-tongued bees, bumblebees, Miner bees, and Mason bees. Penstemons are called 'Beard Tongues' because the sterile stamen has a tuft of small hairs. You may choose to pair Penstemon with some of these other native plants: Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea), Spiderworts (Tradescantia ohiensis), and Prairie Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium campestre). Other common names include Mississippi Penstemon, Smooth White Beardtongue, Talus Slope Penstemon, and simply, Beardtongue.
Info from www.prairiemoon.com