Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
Foxglove Beardtongue is one of our showiest native wildflowers. It is visited by a number of native bees and is frequented by newly hatched bumble bees (Xerces.org) and the tubular flowers attract hummingbirds (illinoiswildflower.info). Another added benefit is that it is a host plant to the Common Buckeye, the Baltimore Checkerspot, the threatened Saunders' Sallow Moth (mnfi.anr.msu.edu), and 10 other species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org). On top of that, it is the host plant for the specialist Mason Bee, Osmia distinct (Holm, 2017) and the Xerces Society considers this early bloomer highly attractive to pollinators (Xerces.org). Beardtongues fill a critical role for pollinators by providing pollen and nectar at a time when resources are dwindling at the end of spring. A great plant for any landscape!
Photo credit: John Blair (2-3)
Foxglove Beardtongue is one of our showiest native wildflowers. It is visited by a number of native bees and is frequented by newly hatched bumble bees (Xerces.org) and the tubular flowers attract hummingbirds (illinoiswildflower.info). Another added benefit is that it is a host plant to the Common Buckeye, the Baltimore Checkerspot, the threatened Saunders' Sallow Moth (mnfi.anr.msu.edu), and 10 other species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org). On top of that, it is the host plant for the specialist Mason Bee, Osmia distinct (Holm, 2017) and the Xerces Society considers this early bloomer highly attractive to pollinators (Xerces.org). Beardtongues fill a critical role for pollinators by providing pollen and nectar at a time when resources are dwindling at the end of spring. A great plant for any landscape!
Photo credit: John Blair (2-3)
Foxglove Beardtongue is one of our showiest native wildflowers. It is visited by a number of native bees and is frequented by newly hatched bumble bees (Xerces.org) and the tubular flowers attract hummingbirds (illinoiswildflower.info). Another added benefit is that it is a host plant to the Common Buckeye, the Baltimore Checkerspot, the threatened Saunders' Sallow Moth (mnfi.anr.msu.edu), and 10 other species of butterflies and moths in our area (nwf.org). On top of that, it is the host plant for the specialist Mason Bee, Osmia distinct (Holm, 2017) and the Xerces Society considers this early bloomer highly attractive to pollinators (Xerces.org). Beardtongues fill a critical role for pollinators by providing pollen and nectar at a time when resources are dwindling at the end of spring. A great plant for any landscape!
Photo credit: John Blair (2-3)
Life Cycle: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial shade
Soil Moisture: Medium – Medium-dry
Height: 3-4 feet
Plant Spacing: 12-18 inches
Bloom Time: June-July
Bloom Color: White
Advantages: Pollinator Favorite, Bird Favorite, Deer Resistant, Great landscaping plant
Host Plant: Common Buckeye, the Baltimore Checkerspot, and 11 more species of butterflies and moths use this as a caterpillar host plant in our area (nwf.org)
Specialist Bee: Mason Bee Osmia distincta. Specialist Wasp: Pollen-Collecting Wasp (Holm, 2017)
Beneficial for Endangered or Threatened Species: Saunders' Sallow Moth (Sympistis saundersiana) (mnfi.anr.msu.edu)
Complementary Plants: June Grass, Butterfly Milkweed, Harebell, Prairie Phlox
Resource: Holm, Heather. Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide. Pollination Press LLC, 2017
