Plant Names
Penstemon hirsutus
Hairy Beardtongue
Penstémon hirsute
Synonyms
northeastern beardtongue
Plant Characteristics
Bloom Colour: Purple
Bloom Period: May - Jun
Max Height: 2.0 feet
Max Width: 1.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolerates dry soil condition
Tolerates medium soil condition
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Tolerates dry soil condition
Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan:
Perennial
plants that will that come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
Suitable for beginner gardeners
Does not spread uncontrollably
Spreads by rhizome
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Suitable for beginner gardeners
Does not spread uncontrollably
Spreads by rhizome
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
Suitable for rock gardens
Suitable for Right of Way gardens
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for school gardens
Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Suitable for rock gardens
Suitable for Right of Way gardens
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for school gardens
Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Ecological Benefits:
No ecological benefits information available.
Tolerates:
Tolerates salt conditions
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates foot traffic around the plant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates sandy conditions
Tolerates salt conditions
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates foot traffic around the plant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates sandy conditions
Special Features and Considerations:
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
We are not accepting seeds for this plant at the moment.
Plant Location
Native to Ottawa region: Yes
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Canadensis
Thrives in Ecozones
- Atlantic Maritime
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Penstemon hirsutus
- Euphydryas phaeton (Baltimore Checkerspot)
Specialized Bees Supported by Penstemon hirsutus
No bee data available for this plant.
Complementary Plants
- Antennaria neglecta
Field Pussytoes
Antennaire négligée - Erigeron philadelphicus
Philadelphia Fleabane
Vergerette de Philadelphie - Geum triflorum
Prairie Smoke
Benoîte à trois fleurs - Glyceria canadensis
Canada Mannagrass
Glycérie du Canada - Packera paupercula
Balsam Groundsel
Séneçon appauvri
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Penstemon digitalis (Foxglove)
- Lamium (Dead nettle)
- Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed)
- Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)
- Delphinium (Delphinium)
- Salvia (Non-Native Sage)
- Aquilegia (Columbine Cultivars)
- Lamium galeobdolon (Yellow Archangel)
- Baptisia (False Indigo)
- Impatiens balsamina (Impatiens Balsamina)
Sowing Information
Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Surface sow
- Sow by February
- Stratification duration: 60 days
- Self-seeding
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: September
- Harvesting indicator:
- Pods are brown and crisp and starting to open
- Seeds are dark and tiny stem attaching to the main stem is brown
- Seeds easily fall off pod when shaken
- Little stem connecting the pod to the main stem is brown (not green)
- Harvesting:
- Cut stem (including pods), let air dry in paper bag, then shake seeds off after a few days
- Seed viability test:
- No test needed before donating
- Packaging measure: Half of one, 1/32 teaspoon
- Seed storage:
- Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
- Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
- Cultivar: Yes, do not donate unless you know source, and there are no known cultivars in your garden or at proximity
- Harvesting video: Watch here
Toxicity Notes
Inadequate information on toxicity found but might be toxic.