Showy Beardtongue, Large Beardtongue, Penstemon grandiflorus, Wildflowers of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

(Large-flowered Beardtongue, Large Beardtongue). Beardtongues usually have 3/4 to 1" trumpet shape flowers with flaring lobes, five stamens and specifically the flower throat is open with a flat base. Flowers are in clusters atop the stem. Showy Beardtongue has very large pink flowers, up to two inches long with wide flaring lips. The flower cluster can be from 6 to 12" high with the individual stalked flowers springing from the leaf axils 2 to 4 per axil. The plant can be 3 - 4 feet high, with a smooth stem. Leaves are opposite, ovate to oblong, smooth edges, thick and fleshy, bluish-green waxy looking and somewhat clasping of the stem. This is a plant of the prairies and while it can grow in semi-shade, it needs well drained soils. Penstemon is from the Greek pente, or "five," and stemon, refers to "stamen." There are four true stamens, usually covered by the two upper lips which form a hood, while the fifth sometimes degenerated stamen sticks out. The species name grandiflorus always means "large flowered".

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Showy Beardtongue	Penstemon grandiflorus Nutt.	Figwort (Scrophulariaceae)	Upland	Early Summer
Other names and notes	(Large-flowered Beardtongue, Large Beardtongue). Beardtongues usually have 3/4 to 1" trumpet shape flowers with flaring lobes, five stamens and specifically the flower throat is open with a flat base. Flowers are in clusters atop the stem. Showy Beardtongue has very large pink flowers, up to two inches long with wide flaring lips. The flower cluster can be from 6 to 12" high with the individual stalked flowers springing from the leaf axils 2 to 4 per axil. The plant can be 3 - 4 feet high, with a smooth stem. Leaves are opposite, ovate to oblong, smooth edges, thick and fleshy, bluish-green waxy looking and somewhat clasping of the stem. This is a plant of the prairies and while it can grow in semi-shade, it needs well drained soils. Penstemon is from the Greek pente, or "five," and stemon, refers to "stamen." There are four true stamens, usually covered by the two upper lips which form a hood, while the fifth sometimes degenerated stamen sticks out. The species name grandiflorus always means "large flowered".