Penstemon
Beardtongue sends up tall flower spikes loaded with bell-shaped blooms that attract pollinators, possessing high drought tolerance and excellent perennial survival.
Growing Guide & Production Protocols
Cultivation & Growing Guidelines
Penstemon, commonly known as ‘beardtongue’, is a perennial from the Plantaginaceae family, valued for its upright spikes of tubular blooms that attract pollinators and bring bold color to summer landscapes. It thrives in full sun, well-drained soil, and moderate to low fertility. Performs well under controlled propagation with uniform sticking and fast rooting. Adequate moisture and air circulation are key, while light PGR use ensures compact, well-branched plants.
With excellent heat and drought tolerance once established, Penstemon is ideal for prairie-style gardens, borders, and water-wise landscapes, offering vertical interest and a long flowering window.
For more detailed growing tips – such as sticking guidelines, recommended PGRs, and scheduling protocols – check out our Penstemon Growing Tips.
Common Production Base Specs
Core agronomic requirements applying across all Penstemon series.
| Crop Type | Bedding - Perennials |
|---|---|
| Growing Guide & Production Protocols | Penstemon , part of the Plantaginaceae family, is known for its tall, structural spikes of tubular, bell-shaped flowers. This herbaceous perennial thrives in full sun, sharply drained, gravelly or sandy soil. With outstanding drought tolerance and hummingbird attraction, Penstemon blooms from early to mid-summer, making it a favorite for water-wise gardens, perennial borders, and native landscapes that need elegant, vertical architectural interest. |
| Cultivation & Groweing guidelines | Maintain 68-72°F (20-22°C) early for rooting, then cool to 55-60°F (13-15°C) to tone and encourage compact growth. pH 5.8-6.2, EC 0.8-1.2, feed 100-150 ppm N. Allow moderate dry down between irrigations. Apply preventative fungicide at transplant. Apply Daminozide at 1,500-2,500 ppm or Uniconazole as needed for height control. |
| Growth Habit | Upright |
| PGR Requirements | Moderate |
| Recommended Formats | Gallons, Landscape |
| Flowering Season | Early to Mid-Summer |
Commercial Penstemon Series Overview
Danziger offers a specialized Penstemon lineup, with each series bred for specific growth habits and production goals. Danziger offers different series within this crop:
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DAKOTA™ series
Explore Series: DAKOTA™ series → -
HARLEQUIN™ series
Explore Series: HARLEQUIN™ series → -
More Penstemon varieties
Explore Series: More Penstemon varieties →
