woodland wildflower

Foxglove beardtongue

Penstemon digitalis

Also known as Mississippi Penstemon, Mississippi Beardtongue, Smooth White Penstemon, Smooth White Beardtongue, Talus Slope Penstemon, Talus Slope Beardtongue, Foxglove Penstemon

Native to much of the USA and southern Canada

Maine to Michigan and South Dakota, south to Virginia, Alabama and eastern Texas. Some authorities say its original distribution was limited to the Mississippi River basin.

Light Full sun to part shade Sun tolerance
Moisture Dry to wet Moisture preference
Zones 3–8 Cold to heat range
Bloom May–Jun Flowering time
Height up to 5 ft to 1.5 m
Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial

Full details, see below

In the garden

A woodland wildflower for full sun to part shade and consistently moist to wet soil. Its white flowers peak in June. At up to 5 ft, it needs room in shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 3–8.

Growing conditions

Light

Full sun Partial shade Full shade

Moisture

Dry Moist Wet

Hardiness zones

Find your zone:

When it blooms

The Foxglove beardtongue's white flowers bloom May to June, peaking in June. This early-summer display draws bees and butterflies.

Foxglove beardtongue blooms whiteFoliage

Pollinators & wildlife

Bees Common Eastern Bumble Bee

also Western Honey Bee, Eastern Carpenter Bee, Brown-belted Bumble Bee +26 more
Two-spotted Bumble Bee, American Bumble Bee, Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee, Bombus fervidus, Perplexing Bumble Bee, European Woolcarder Bee, Black-and-gold Bumble Bee, Half-black Bumble Bee, Northern Amber Bumble Bee, Oblong Woolcarder Bee, Rusty-patched Bumble Bee, Spurred Ceratina, Orange-tipped Wood-digger, Taurus Mason Bee, Bufflehead Mason Bee, Sanderson's Bumble Bee, Maine Blueberry Bee, Beardtongue scraper bee, Gotham Sweat Bee, Hitchens's Sweat Bee, Buff-tailed Bumble Bee, Lasioglossum leucocomum, Nimble Ceratina, Xylocopa virginica virginica, Lasioglossum pilosum, Abrupt Digger Bee
Butterflies Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

also Silver-spotted Skipper, Pipevine Swallowtail, Eastern Tailed-Blue +10 more
Great Spangled Fritillary, Spicebush Swallowtail, Zabulon Skipper, Peck's Skipper, Least Skipper, Hobomok Skipper, Amblyscirtes hegon, Swarthy Skipper, Protographium marcellus, Euphydryas phaeton
Flower flies Margined Calligrapher

also Eastern Calligrapher, Oblique Streaktail, Thick-legged Hover Fly +3 more
Tufted Globetail, American Snout Fly, Toxomeris marginatus
Also visited by
- Moths:
  
  Virginia Ctenucha Moth, Hummingbird Clearwing +1 more
  Nessus Sphinx
- Hummingbirds: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Beetles: Wide-horned Soldier Beetle

Butterflies that use this plant

Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.

Full plant details

Where it grows

Habitat: WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
Native range: Much of the USA and southern CanadaUnited States (35): 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. Canada (1): ON. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
Native distribution: Maine to Michigan and South Dakota, south to Virginia, Alabama and eastern Texas. Some authorities say its original distribution was limited to the Mississippi River basin.The same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.

Growing conditions

Light: Full sun to part shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
Moisture: Dry to wetThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
Hardiness zones: USDA 3–8 · Canadian 4–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
Soil: Fertile, well-drained loams, clay loams, and sand. Acid preferably but tolerates limeThe soils it grows in naturally.
Soil pH: 5.5–7.0The acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
Soil quality: MediumHow rich a soil it needs. Many natives prefer lean soil and flop in rich beds.
Water use: Low to highHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
Salinity tolerance: MediumHow well it copes with salty soil, near roads or the coast.
Lime (CaCO₃) tolerance: LowHow well it copes with chalky, lime-rich soil.

Growth & form

Height: up to 5 ft (to 1.5 m)Typical mature height.
Life cycle: PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Growth rate: ModerateA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.
Shape: ErectIts overall silhouette.
Root depth: 8+ in (20+ cm)How far the roots reach, a guide to drought resilience and transplanting.

Flowers, foliage & fruit

Type: WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
Bloom: May–JunWhen it flowers.
Flower color: WhiteThe bloom color, or colors.
Fruit/Seeds: Capsule; ripens Mar–NovThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
Toxicity: None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.

Propagation & seed

Cold stratification: Not requiredWhether seed needs a cold, moist spell before it will germinate.
Propagation: Container, seed, sprigsHow to start new plants.
Seed: ~0.4 million seeds per poundNotes on the seed and how to sow it.
Seed spread rate: SlowHow readily it self-sows. Slow or none means well-behaved, not a spreader.
Seedling vigor: MediumHow strongly young seedlings establish.
Vegetative spread: ModerateWhether it creeps outward or stays put in a clump.