PerennialsPenstemon digitalis
Foxglove Beardtongue
Foxglove beardtongue is a graceful North American native perennial with striking clusters of white, tubular flowers on elegant upright stems in June and July. The blooms attract a wide range of pollinators. The dark green foliage often has a reddish flush, especially in spring. An excellent choice for naturalistic plantings and prairie gardens.
Characteristics
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Low
- Height
- 60–100 cm
- Spread
- 30–45 cm
- Hardiness zone
- 3–8
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Evergreen
- No
- Flower colors
- white
- Wildlife value
- bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Bloom period
Care guide
Plant in full sun in well-drained soil. Tolerates drought, heat and poor soil superbly. No feeding needed. Once established, the plant is virtually self-sufficient. Self-seeds modestly and can gradually form a natural-looking drift.
Pruning tips
Leave the seed heads for winter silhouette and self-seeding. Cut dead foliage to the ground in early spring. Cut stems back after flowering if you wish to prevent self-seeding.
Good companions
PerennialsBaptisia australis
Blue Wild Indigo
Blue wild indigo is a stately, long-lived perennial with blue-green trifoliate leaves and striking racemes of indigo-blue, lupin-like flowers in May and June. After flowering, decorative inflated dark seed pods appear that remain attractive into winter. The plant forms a sturdy, shrub-like clump that grows larger and more impressive each year.
PerennialsMonarda didyma
Bee Balm
Bee balm is a striking perennial with aromatic foliage and crown-like flowers in fiery red, pink or purple that appear in whorls around the stem in July and August. The blooms are a magnet for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The aromatic leaves release a bergamot scent when rubbed between the fingers.
PerennialsEchinacea purpurea
Purple Coneflower
Purple Coneflower is a sturdy perennial with distinctive pink-purple petals surrounding an orange-brown cone. The flowers appear from July to September and are a magnet for butterflies and bees. In autumn and winter, the seed heads attract goldfinches and other seed-eating birds.