Penstemon hirsutus

Sizes available: Landscape plug

Basics: zones 3-9, up to 18" x 12", full to part sun to partial shade, pale pinky-purple tubular flowers in late spring to early summer, can really take anything you throw at it: wet, med-wet, med-dry, dry. I would imagine it wants good winter drainage, though.

Common names: Hairy Beardtongue, Northeastern Beardtongue

Family: Plantaginaceae (Go Botany)

Origin/Distribution: Maine to Wisconsin and south to Virginia and Kentucky

Habitat: dry fields and open or dapple-shaded woodlands

More: Very attractive to pollinators, persistent attractive leaves at ground-cover height. This is another waaaaaay underutilized native plant. Perhaps because of its unfortunate name? As you can see from the basic information, it is extremely adaptable. I have been saying when in doubt plant a strawberry or a violet and I am going to add Penstemon hirsutus to the list of no-brainer native plants.

Nursery: Van Berkum

Image credits: Frank Meuschke of Shelterwood Gardens; illustration from Wikimedia Commons