James' Beardtongue
Penstemon jamesii
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
James' Beardtongue (Penstemon jamesii) 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
8"–16" H × 6"–12" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul
Native to
CO, KS, NM, TX
Pollinators
bees, hummingbirds
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 459 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 James' Beardtongue.
Browse plants for this ecoregion
James' beardtongue is a compact native perennial that forms neat clumps of gray-green foliage. It produces delicate tubular flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white from late spring through summer, creating an attractive low-maintenance groundcover.
In an HOA neighborhood
James' Beardtongue is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.
- Dies back in winter leaving bare spots
Wildlife value
This plant is excellent for supporting native bees and attracts hummingbirds with its tubular flowers. It provides important nectar sources during its long blooming period from May through July.
Common questions
- How much sun does James' Beardtongue need?
- James' Beardtongue grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does James' Beardtongue bloom?
- James' Beardtongue blooms in May, June, and July.
- Where is James' Beardtongue native?
- James' Beardtongue (Penstemon jamesii) is native to CO, KS, NM, TX, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What pollinators does James' Beardtongue attract?
- James' Beardtongue draws bees and hummingbirds.
- Is James' Beardtongue HOA-friendly?
- James' Beardtongue is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. 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 James' Beardtongue? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.