Foxglove beardtongue

Foxglove beardtongue: how do you recognise it?

Habit

A rosette of leaves with upright flower stems up to about 90 cm tall and 45 cm wide.

Leaves

Lance-shaped, glossy and opposite on the stem; green, purple-red in ‘Husker Red’.

Flower

Tubular with an open mouth, white, about 2.5 cm long, in loose sprays in June–July.

Fruit

Small brown seed capsules on sturdy stems that stand all winter.

Roots

Fibrous roots in a compact clump; it does not spread.

Flowering: June–July · Sowing: February–March · Plants: March–May and September · Pruning: March

Why grow it?

• The hardiest penstemon: it survives even severe Belgian winters without protection.
• White flowers in June–July, loved by bumblebees and other bees.
• ‘Husker Red’ has purple-red leaves, especially in spring.
• Copes well with drought and grows in sand, loam and clay.
• The seed stems stay attractive through winter.
• Lovely in a natural border or a prairie-style planting.

Foxglove beardtongue: where does it grow best?

• Sun or partial shade; in full sun it flowers most freely and ‘Husker Red’ colours best.
• Well-drained sand, loam or clay, acid to chalky.
• Dry to moderately moist; it dislikes wet feet in winter.
• Allow 40–45 cm between plants.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Dry or normal

Size

0.9 m tall, 0.45 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -30 °C)

Goes well with

• Coneflower: Pink flowers that follow on from the penstemon, in the same sun.
• Switchgrass: An airy ornamental grass from the same prairies.
• Catmint: A blue haze at its feet, also drought tolerant.
• Sage: Violet-blue spikes as a contrast with the white flowers.

Foxglove beardtongue: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May and September.

1. Plant from March to May or in September, when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball; in heavy clay work in some coarse sand or gravel.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot, with the rosette at soil level.
4. Space plants 40–45 cm apart; it looks best in groups of 3–5.
5. Water well straight away and again during dry spells in the first weeks.
6. Mulch thinly with compost, keeping the rosette clear.

Care

Watering

In dry spells during the first year; after that only in long droughts.

Feeding

Not needed in ordinary garden soil: rich soil gives floppy stems.

Spent flowers

Leave them for the seed capsules and winter structure.

Support

Rarely needed; in rich soil or shade the stems may flop.

Seedlings

It sometimes self-seeds; seedlings of ‘Husker Red’ do not always have red leaves.

Tip: Leave the seed stems standing in autumn and only cut them down in March: they give winter structure and look lovely with frost on them.

Foxglove beardtongue: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March.

When: In March, cut down the old seed stems. No pruning is needed for the rest of the year.

How:

• Leave the spent stems standing in autumn and winter: they look lovely with frost on them.
• In March, cut them back to just above the leaf rosette.
• Leave the rosette itself: the new stems grow from it.

Caution: Do not cut away the leaf rosette at the base: the plant needs it to get through winter and spring.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

Sow indoors in February–March in seed compost; the seed often germinates better if you first keep it cold and moist in the fridge for a few weeks. Prick out the seedlings and plant them out in May.

Division

In March–April or September, every 3–4 years: split the clump into pieces each with a rosette and roots, and replant them straight away.

Foxglove beardtongue: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −30 °C.

• Very hardy, to about −30 °C: no protection is needed in Belgium.
• The leaf rosette stays green in mild winters, often reddish in ‘Husker Red’.
• Wet soil in winter is more dangerous than frost: make sure the soil drains well.
• Leave the seed stems for structure and for overwintering insects.

Diseases and pests

• Root rot: The plant wilts and the rosette turns brown after a wet winter. Plant it in well-drained soil.
• Slugs: They eat the young shoots and the rosette in spring. Pick them off in the evening.
• Flopping stems: In soil that is too rich or too much shade. Do not feed and choose a sunny spot.
• Greener leaves: ‘Husker Red’ loses some of its red colour in summer and in shade. That is normal; sun helps.

Through the year

• February: Sow indoors after giving the seed a cold treatment.
• March: Cut down old seed stems. Sow. Plant or divide.
• April: Plant. Prick out seedlings.
• May: Plant out seedlings. Keep slugs away.
• June: Flowering begins.
• July: Full flower. Water young plants in dry spells.
• August: Seed capsules form.
• September: Plant or divide.
• October: Leave the seed stems standing.
• December: The seed stems decorate the winter garden.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The name penstemon comes from the Greek pente (five) and stemon (stamen), because the flower has five stamens.
• The English name beardtongue refers to the fifth, sterile stamen, which is hairy like a little beard.
• ‘Husker Red’ was named Perennial Plant of the Year in the United States in 1996.