Description
Penstemon digitalis
CT DR RG P
Soil: Acidic, Fertile, Well-drained
Moisture: Moist to Dry (moist preferred)
Light: Full to Part Sun
Plant Height: 3 to 5 feet
Plant Width: 1 to 2 feet
Pests: None serious, but watch for slugs and snails.
Landscape Value: Great for massing in sunny borders and naturalized areas. Good for butterfly gardens, rain gardens, wooded edges and open woodlands.
A robust, clump-forming perennial with basal leaves and erect, rigid stems topped by showy clusters of paired, white, tubular flowers with pale reddish-purple nectar guides. Flowers bloom late spring to mid-summer, producing brownish fruiting capsules that persist into winter and attract songbirds. To encourage continuous blooming, deadhead spent flowers. Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and large numbers of long-tongued native bees, including bumblebees, mason bees, and miner bees. Tolerates clay soil, dry soil, and occasional drought and flooding once established. Allow soil to dry out between waterings. Over-watering and wet soil can lead to root rot. Makes a great cut flower.
5-pint pot
Photo credits:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (photos by James L. Reveal, R.W. Smith)
Missouri Botanical Garden
North Carolina State Extension (photo by Mark Kluge)
