All listed sizes available for pre-order until March 15th. Quantities may become limited as the season gets underway.
Sizes - Availability - Price
4 Inch Pots - Pre-Order Available - $5.00
Quart Pots - Pre-Order Available - $8.00
1 Gallon Pot - Coming Fall 2026 - $12.00
Height - 2 Feet
Light Needs - Full Sun / Part Shade
Soil Preferences - Clay/Loam/Sand
Moisture Range - Medium-Dry
Advantages - Home Garden Favorite / Pollinator Specialist / Supports Birds
Deer Resistance - No
Bloom Time - May-July
Bloom Color - Purple
Root Type - Fibrous
Growth Habit - Clumping
Plant Profile
Slender Beardtongue - (Penstemon gracilis) is a clump-forming perennial in the Plantaginaceae family (Plantain). The Slender name comes from the leaves, which are toothed and more narrow than the common and widely-distributed Penstemon digitalis. This graceful prairie plant’s native range is primarily throughout the Upper Midwest states and into Canada.
This beardtongue will range in height from 6-20” depending on site conditions. The very pale violet flowers' 5 lobes, 2 on the top that tilt upward and 3 bottom lobes that turn down, create the classic Penstemon tubular flower that is a perfect invitation to bumble and other bees and pollinators. In addition to being very attractive to pollinators they serve as the host plant for several species of Checkerspot butterflies.
A benefit of this pollinator-friendly plant is that it is drought tolerant. Consider growing this wonderful plant in full sun to light shade in small groups in the native/pollinator garden, naturalized areas or borders.
Highly Important Host
(3 or fewer types of host plants for species)
Saunder's Sallow - Platphalonidia Lavana
Generally Important Host
(4 or more host plants for species)
Chalcedony Midget - Common Buckeye - Confused Haploa - American Bordered Sallow - Baltimore Checkerspot - Purple-Lined Sallow - Verbena Bud Moth - Mouse Amphipyra