Cordroot beardtongue
Penstemon montanus
Last reviewed: October 2026
Cordroot beardtongue (Penstemon montanus) is a perennial forb native to ID, MT, UT, WY. It blooms in June, July, and August. The flowers draw native bees and bumble bees.
Toxicity unknown
Cordroot beardtongue (Penstemon montanus) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
4"–10" H × 8"–16" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
ID, MT, UT, WY
Pollinators
native bees, bumble bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 458 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Cordroot beardtongue.
Browse plants for this ecoregion
A low, mat-forming perennial with narrow leaves and showy lavender-purple tubular flowers held just above the foliage. It grows tucked into rocky crevices on high, exposed slopes.
Growing Cordroot beardtongue
Grow Cordroot beardtongue in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 4 to 10 inches tall and spread 8 to 16 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Its tubular flowers are a nectar source for bumble bees and other native bees at high elevation.
Common questions
- How much sun does Cordroot beardtongue need?
- Cordroot beardtongue grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Cordroot beardtongue bloom?
- Cordroot beardtongue blooms in June, July, and August.
- Where is Cordroot beardtongue native?
- Cordroot beardtongue (Penstemon montanus) is native to ID, MT, UT, WY, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Cordroot beardtongue attract?
- Cordroot beardtongue draws native bees and bumble bees.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Cordroot beardtongue? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.