Northeastern beardtongue
Penstemon hirsutus
Last reviewed: November 2026
Penstemon hirsutus, or Northeastern beardtongue, is a low-water forb that produces pale purple tubular flowers from May through July in part-sun garden settings.
Watering reminders and freeze alerts for Northeastern beardtongue, free in the app.
Toxicity unknown
Northeastern beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus) 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
part sun
Water
low
Size
12"–30" H × 12"–18" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul
Native to
CT, DC, DE, IL and 16 more states
Pollinators
bumble bees, mason bees, hummingbirds
Before you buy
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A slender beardtongue with narrow tubular flowers in soft lavender-white held on upright wiry stems above a low basal rosette. It stays compact, tolerates dry rocky soil and light shade, and keeps a tidy silhouette after bloom.
Growing Northeastern beardtongue
Grow Northeastern beardtongue in part sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 30 inches tall and spread 12 to 18 inches wide.
How to care for Northeastern beardtongue, by region
How to care for Northeastern beardtongue where it is actually grown: year-round basics plus what to do each season, region by region, with the sources for each.
Care guidance last updated: October 2026
Northeastern Coastal Zone (includes New York, NY)
Year-round
Northeastern beardtongue prefers thin, dry, well-drained soil. Drainage is the main job in clay or urban soil. It blooms pink to purple in June and July and grows about 32 inches tall. Bumble bees, native bees, and hummingbirds visit it.
- Thin, dry, well-drained soil
- Sun, part shade, or shade
- Blooms June and July
- About 32 inches tall
- Do not overwater
Fall
Seed forms after bloom and sprouts best after cold, moist time. Scatter it in fall where you want more plants. Hold off on watering as the weather cools.
- Scatter seed in fall
- Let the cold winter treat the seed
- Stop extra watering
- Leave a few seed heads standing
Trimming spent stalks in late fall or spring keeps it HOA-friendly.
Winter
In a zone 7b winter this plant sits dormant. Wet soil is worse than cold. No care is needed beyond keeping drainage open.
- No winter watering
- Keep leaf litter off the crown
- Do not fertilize
- Mark the location
Spring
Spring is a good time to plant. Mix grit or sand into clay, or plant on a slight mound so water drains away. Water new plants lightly until rooted.
- Add grit to heavy soil
- Plant on a slight mound
- Water new plants lightly
- Skip rich compost and fertilizer
Summer
Flowers open in June and July and attract bees and hummingbirds. It likes dry conditions, so water only in extended droughts. Long wet, humid spells are the main concern in the city.
- Water only in long droughts
- Avoid wet feet
- Pink to purple flowers draw bees
- Good airflow helps in humid weather
Sources: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Penstemon hirsutus profile
Wildlife value
Long tubular flowers are worked heavily by long-tongued bumble bees, and the seed capsules persist into winter for small birds.
Common questions
- When does Northeastern beardtongue bloom?
- Penstemon hirsutus typically flowers from May through July, sending up spikes of tubular, pale purple to lavender blossoms.
- What pollinators does Penstemon hirsutus attract?
- Bumble bees and mason bees are frequent visitors to the tubular flowers, and hummingbirds will also feed at the blooms.
- How much light and water does this plant need?
- It grows best in part sun and has low water needs once established, tolerating drier soils without frequent watering.
- Does Penstemon hirsutus stay green year round?
- No, it is a deciduous herbaceous forb. The foliage dies back in winter and new growth emerges again in spring.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
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 Northeastern beardtongue? Add it to your garden in the Pollinator Patch App to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.