Penstemon glaber - Beardtongue

The Penstemon glaber combines qualities. It is a hardy and reliable perennial species, not very demanding regarding soil. It offers a generous and charming flowering, ranging from pink to more or less light mauve depending on the temperature, as well as striking foliage at the end of the season. The plant, not very tall and very bushy, dressed in elongated foliage, produces a multitude of bell-shaped flowers of a beautiful size gathered in spikes. Full of charm in summer beds or planted in a pot on the terrace, it is a lovely, not-too-dry rockery plant and a delightful cut flower.

The Penstemon glaber is native to the American West, where it is found in rocky and schistose prairies, as well as in pine forests. Depending on the classifications, it is a bushy perennial plant, woody at the base, belonging to the family of scrophulariaceae or Plantaginaceae. Its above-ground vegetation persists more or less depending on the winter cold. The Penstemon glaber forms clumps of 40 cm (16in) in all directions, with upright stems covered with abundant foliage finely lanceolate of medium green. From September to November, all the vegetation gradually turns to intense red-pink. Its growth is relatively rapid. The flowering extends from June to August, developing on the terminal part of the leafy stems. The flowers, shaped like bell-shaped bells, measuring 3 to 4 cm (1 to 2in) long, are gathered in clusters. They have a lovely colour where pink dominates at the beginning of flowering, and mauve and white take over in July and August. The plant will adapt to any good garden soil properly drained and not too dry in summer, even if it is limestone.

The Penstemon glaber is used in beds or borders among perennials such as agapanthus, catmints, asters, geraniums, and perennial chrysanthemums or mixed with shrubs such as repeat-flowering roses or Caryopteris, for example. It goes well with light annuals such as love-in-a-mist and cosmos. Its pastel flowers are enhanced by dark foliage such as Weigela Minor Black or Physocarpus Summer Wine. It also performs well in pots, with proper drainage and regular water and fertilizer inputs. Penstemons also make perfect cut flowers.