• Photo of Penstemon digitalis (Penstemon digitaliss)

Plant Profile: Penstemon digitalis

Taxonomy: Penstemon digitalis

Names

Foxglove Beardtongue, Tall White Beardtongue, White Beardtongue

  • Photo of Penstemon digitalis (Penstemon digitaliss)

Phonetic Spelling:PEN-stem-on dig-ee-TAH-liss

Genus:Penstemon

Species:digitalis

Family:Plantaginaceae

Penstemon digitalis is a perennial plant that forms clumps and belongs to the plantain family, thriving in the mountainous regions of North Carolina. This species can reach heights of up to 5 feet and is commonly found in prairies, along the edges of woodlands, and in open forests across the eastern and central United States. During late spring to early summer, it produces striking clusters of white tubular flowers that attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Notably, this plant is resilient and does not face significant issues with diseases or pests.

Easily adaptable to cultivation, Penstemon digitalis prefers well-drained loamy soils that range from moist to dry, and it can also tolerate well-drained clay soils. For optimal growth, it should be planted in full sun to light shade, ideally in small groups within native or pollinator gardens, naturalized areas, or along borders.

For further details on Penstemon, please refer to additional resources.

Penstemon digitalis Feature Summary

Penstemon digitalis Image Gallery

Tags

#hummingbirds
#white flowers
#wildlife plant
#purple flowers
#native perennial
#nectar plant
#spring flowers
#specialized bees
#ncemgva2018
#NC native
#summer flowers
#pollinator plant
#native wildflower
#food source summer
#NC Native Pollinator Plant
#food source herbage
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#coastal FAC
#Piedmont Mountains FAC
#bird friendly
#food source hard mast fruit
#butterfly friendly
#pollinators
#bee friendly
#audubon

Similar Plants

Penstemon digitalis is often confused with:

Penstemon digitalis Feature Summary

Attributes
Central and Eastern USA
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
This plant attracts birds, hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Members of the genus Penstemon support the following specialized bee: Osmia (Melanosmia) distincta.
Perennial
Fruit
Oval seed capsules, each containing numerous seeds from July to August.
Flowers
1 in. white or purple-tinged 2-lipped tubular flowers in a terminal cluster. The flower tube is abruptly swollen in the middle. Flowers bloom from May to July.
Purple/Lavender
White
Showy
Long Bloom Season
Spring
Summer
2-3 rays/petals
Tubular
Lipped
1-3 inches
Leaves
Basal leaves are oval, 2-6 inches long with entire margins. Stem leaves are up to 5 inches long, lance-shaped to oblong, finely toothed and shiny green.
Green
Purple/Lavender
Elliptical
Oblong
Entire
Serrate
3-6 inches
1-3 inches
Stem
Slender, smooth green to purple-tinged stems
Purple/Lavender
Green
Smooth (glabrous)
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Native Plant
Wildflower
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Rock Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Native Garden
Naturalized Area
Slope/Bank
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Hummingbirds

Penstemon digitalis Attributes

Penstemon digitalis: Country Or Region Of Origin

Central and Eastern USA

Penstemon digitalis: Distribution

AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV

Penstemon digitalis: Wildlife Value

This plant attracts birds, hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Members of the genus Penstemon support the following specialized bee: Osmia (Melanosmia) distincta.

Penstemon digitalis: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Penstemon digitalis Fruit

Penstemon digitalis: Fruit Description

Oval seed capsules, each containing numerous seeds from July to August.

Penstemon digitalis: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Penstemon digitalis: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Penstemon digitalis Flowers

Penstemon digitalis: Flower Description

1 in. white or purple-tinged 2-lipped tubular flowers in a terminal cluster. The flower tube is abruptly swollen in the middle. Flowers bloom from May to July.

Penstemon digitalis: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender
filter_vintage
White

Penstemon digitalis: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Penstemon digitalis: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Penstemon digitalis: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Penstemon digitalis: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Penstemon digitalis: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Penstemon digitalis: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Penstemon digitalis Leaves

Penstemon digitalis: Leaf Description

Basal leaves are oval, 2-6 inches long with entire margins. Stem leaves are up to 5 inches long, lance-shaped to oblong, finely toothed and shiny green.

Penstemon digitalis: Leaf Color

spa
Green
spa
Purple/Lavender

Penstemon digitalis: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Penstemon digitalis: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Penstemon digitalis: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Penstemon digitalis: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Penstemon digitalis: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Penstemon digitalis: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Penstemon digitalis: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Penstemon digitalis: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Penstemon digitalis Stem

Penstemon digitalis: Stem Description

Slender, smooth green to purple-tinged stems

Penstemon digitalis: Stem Color

grass
Green
grass
Purple/Lavender

Penstemon digitalis: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Penstemon digitalis: Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Penstemon digitalis Whole Plant Traits

Penstemon digitalis: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Penstemon digitalis: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Penstemon digitalis: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Penstemon digitalis: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Penstemon digitalis: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Penstemon digitalis Cultural Conditions

Penstemon digitalis: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Penstemon digitalis: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Penstemon digitalis: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Penstemon digitalis: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Penstemon digitalis: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
3a
thermostat
3b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Penstemon digitalis: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Penstemon digitalis Landscape

Penstemon digitalis: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Penstemon digitalis: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Penstemon digitalis: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Penstemon digitalis: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Penstemon digitalis: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees