• Penstemon digitalis (Foxglove Beardtongue) native plant in bloom
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Penstemon digitalis (Foxglove Beardtongue)

Penstemon digitalis (Foxglove Beardtongue)

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Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) produces upright stems of white, tubular flowers in late spring and early summer. Bees visit the blooms above a basal cluster of leaves. It is useful in sunny native borders and prairie gardens where early flowers are wanted before many summer species bloom.

Plant it in full to partial sun with well-drained soil. Average moisture suits it well, and established plants tolerate some drying. Clay can be suitable when it drains; low ground that remains waterlogged is not the same growing condition.

The perennial clump can enlarge through nearby rosettes, and seedlings may appear if seedheads are left to mature. Give the basal leaves enough light after flowering rather than allowing taller plants to cover them completely. In a garden, remove finished flower stems for a tidier appearance or retain some for seed.

Plant specifications

Key growing facts

Sunlight Full to partial sun
Soil moisture Average
Height About 3 ft
Bloom season Late spring or early summer
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Build a layered native planting with grasses and sedges as a matrix, ground covers, seasonal flowers, and plants for texture. Explore the full curated Full Sun list below. Match light, soil moisture, mature size, and spreading habit to your site.

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Hover over a plant name or expand Growing information for details. Short: under 2 ft · Medium: 2 to under 4 ft · Tall: 4 ft or more.

Full Sun

Click the buttons below to expand a list of species.

Grasses & Sedges — Matrix Species
  • Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–8 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Green foliage; bronze fall color · Season: Late summer–fall seedheads · Light: Sun · Moisture: Moist to slightly dry · Note: Very vigorous; can dominate small beds. Best with ample space and strong companions.

  • Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–7 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Green foliage; golden-brown seedheads · Season: Late summer–fall seedheads · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to slightly dry · Note: Very vigorous; can dominate small beds. Best with ample space and strong companions.

  • Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–3 ft (Medium) · Color: Blue-green foliage; copper fall color · Season: Late summer–fall seedheads · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Upright clumps; avoid overly rich or wet soil.

  • Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
    Growing information

    Height: 1.5 ft–3 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Green foliage; tan seedheads · Season: Late summer–fall seedheads · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Fine-textured clumps; foliage usually 1–2 ft tall.

  • Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–2.5 ft (Medium) · Color: Green foliage; tan seedheads · Season: Summer–fall seedheads · Light: Sun · Moisture: Dry · Note: Fine texture with seedheads along one side of the stem.

  • Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–6 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Green foliage; airy tan seedheads · Season: Summer–fall seedheads · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to average · Note: Very vigorous; can dominate small beds. Best with ample space and strong companions.

  • Tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–4 ft (Short / Medium / Tall) · Color: Green foliage; airy tan seedheads · Season: Summer seedheads · Light: Part sun to part shade · Moisture: Moist · Note: Best in cooler, moist pockets; not a dry-prairie grass.

Ground Covers
  • Canada anemone (Anemone canadensis)
    Growing information

    Height: 9 in–2 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: White · Season: Late spring–early summer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist · Note: Spreads aggressively by rhizomes; can overwhelm smaller plants.

  • Prairie alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–2 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Green foliage; greenish-white flowers · Season: Late spring–early summer · Light: Sun to part shade · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Clump-forming foliage; use light shade rather than deep shade.

  • Wild petunia (Ruellia humilis)
    Growing information

    Height: 6 in–1 ft (Short) · Color: Lavender · Season: Summer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to dry · Note: Seed pods burst and fling seed nearby; can self-seed.

Flowers
Spring
  • Blue wild indigo (Baptisia australis)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–4 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Blue-violet · Season: Late spring–early summer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Average to dry, well-drained · Note: Upright, bushy form; best flowering in sun. Native to parts of the central and eastern U.S.; Chicago-region native status is uncertain.

  • Cream wild indigo (Baptisia bracteata)
    Growing information

    Height: 1.5 ft–2.5 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Cream-yellow · Season: Spring · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Low, bushy form; allow room for its spreading outline.

  • Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–5 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: White · Season: Late spring–early summer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Average · Note: Upright flower spikes; blooms bridge spring and summer.

  • Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–2.5 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Yellow · Season: Late spring–early summer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to average · Note: An informal, naturalistic look—best for gardeners who enjoy a wilder style.

  • Hairy beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–2 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Lavender-purple with pale lips · Season: Late spring–early summer · Light: Sun to part shade · Moisture: Average to dry, well-drained · Note: Compact; can self-seed without usually spreading aggressively.

  • Jacob's ladder (Polemonium reptans)
    Growing information

    Height: 6 in–1.5 ft (Short) · Color: Pale blue · Season: Spring · Light: Part shade · Moisture: Average to moist · Note: In prairie-style gardens, use sheltered part-sun pockets; avoid hot, dry exposures.

  • Large-flowered beardtongue (Penstemon grandiflorus)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–3.5 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Lavender-pink · Season: Late spring–early summer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Dry, well-drained · Note: Showy flowers; best in sandy or gravelly soil; can be short-lived.

  • Midland shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–1.5 ft (Short) · Color: Pink to white · Season: Late spring · Light: Sun to part shade · Moisture: Moist to slightly dry · Note: Spring ephemeral; summer dormant.

  • Ohio spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–4 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Blue-violet · Season: Late spring–midsummer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to slightly dry · Note: Flowers bridge spring and summer; foliage may decline after flowering.

  • Pale beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–2.5 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: White to pale pink · Season: Late spring–early summer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Fine-textured spring flowers; best in well-drained soil.

  • Pasque flower (Pulsatilla patens)
    Growing information

    Height: 6 in–1 ft (Short) · Color: Lavender-purple · Season: Early spring · Light: Sun · Moisture: Dry, well-drained · Note: Best in dry areas; avoid wet or poorly drained soil. Confirm the supplied subspecies when local nativity is important.

  • Prairie phlox (Phlox pilosa)
    Growing information

    Height: 6 in–1.75 ft (Short) · Color: Pink to lavender · Season: Late spring–early summer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to average · Note: Low spring color for the front of a planting.

  • Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum)
    Growing information

    Height: 5 in–10 in (Short) · Color: Pink-red flowers; silvery-pink seedheads · Season: Spring · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Low spring accent with feathery seedheads.

  • Smooth beardtongue (Penstemon calycosus)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–3 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Light violet to purple · Season: Late spring–early summer · Light: Sun to filtered shade · Moisture: Moist to dry, well-drained · Note: Also called calico or long-sepal beardtongue; adaptable in garden beds.

  • Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–2.5 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Blue flowers; pink buds · Season: Spring · Light: Part shade · Moisture: Moist · Note: Spring ephemeral; summer dormant. In sunnier gardens, use moisture-retentive soil and shelter from hot afternoon sun.

  • Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) — Part sun / partial shade
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–3 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Red and yellow · Season: Late spring–early summer · Light: Part sun / partial shade · Moisture: Moist to dry, well-drained · Note: Use part-sun or lightly shaded pockets in either garden group; seedlings benefit from shelter. Self-seeds into gaps; foliage can decline after flowering.

Summer
  • Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–2.5 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Yellow with dark centers · Season: Summer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to moderately dry · Note: Usually biennial or short-lived; can renew itself by seed.

  • Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–2.5 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Orange · Season: Early–midsummer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry, well-drained · Note: Can be finicky in heavy, poorly drained clay; prefers slightly drier conditions.

  • Canada anemone (Anemone canadensis)
    Growing information

    Height: 9 in–2 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: White · Season: Late spring–early summer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist · Note: Spreads aggressively by rhizomes; can overwhelm smaller plants.

  • Common ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–4 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Purple · Season: Late summer–early fall · Light: Sun · Moisture: Moist · Note: Can reach the tall category; use moist pockets.

  • Compass plant (Silphium laciniatum)
    Growing information

    Height: 6 ft–12 ft (Tall) · Color: Yellow · Season: Midsummer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Moist to slightly dry · Note: Tall; large divided leaves and towering flower stems.

  • Culver's root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
    Growing information

    Height: 4 ft–7 ft (Tall) · Color: White · Season: Early–midsummer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to average · Note: Tall; slender flower spires for the back of the bed.

  • Dense blazing star (Liatris spicata)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–5 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Purple · Season: Mid–late summer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Moist · Note: Also called marsh blazing star; best in moister pockets.

  • Dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–2 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Purple · Season: Late summer–early fall · Light: Sun · Moisture: Dry, well-drained · Note: Short, drought-tolerant species; slow to establish.

  • Dwarf blazing star (Liatris cylindracea)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–1.5 ft (Short) · Color: Purple · Season: Mid–late summer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Dry · Note: Short; best in dry, well-drained sites.

  • Early goldenrod (Solidago juncea)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–3 ft (Medium) · Color: Yellow · Season: Mid–late summer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Average to slightly dry · Note: Summer-flowering goldenrod; spreads by rhizomes.

  • Grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–3.5 ft (Medium) · Color: Yellow · Season: Late summer–early fall · Light: Sun · Moisture: Wet to normal · Note: Spreads by rhizomes; allow room to expand.

  • Hoary vervain (Verbena stricta)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–3.5 ft (Medium) · Color: Purple · Season: Mid–late summer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Upright spikes; favors open, dry sites.

  • Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–3 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Purple flowers; gray-green foliage · Season: Early–midsummer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Low, bushy form with fine-textured foliage and flower spikes.

  • Meadow blazing star (Liatris ligulistylis)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–5 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Purple · Season: Late summer–early fall · Light: Sun · Moisture: Moist to average, well-drained · Note: Butterfly magnet; height varies with site conditions.

  • Missouri ironweed (Vernonia missurica)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–6 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Magenta-purple · Season: Late summer–early fall · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to average · Note: Tall; strong late-season color.

  • New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–3.25 ft (Medium) · Color: White · Season: Early–midsummer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Average to slightly dry · Note: Compact, bushy shrub form.

  • Nodding onion (Allium cernuum)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–1.5 ft (Short) · Color: Pink to pale pink · Season: Summer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Average, well-drained · Note: Nodding flowerheads; use brighter woodland edges.

  • Oxeye sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–5 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Yellow · Season: Summer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to average · Note: Tall; also called false sunflower.

  • Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–3 ft (Medium) · Color: Pale pink-purple · Season: Early summer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Slender, drooping petals.

  • Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–4 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Purple · Season: Late summer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Moist to average · Note: Tall flower spikes; best in moister prairie pockets.

  • Prairie dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–10 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Yellow · Season: Late summer–early fall · Light: Sun · Moisture: Moist to slightly dry · Note: Tall flower stems above broad basal leaves.

  • Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–5 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Pink-purple · Season: Summer · Light: Sun to part shade · Moisture: Moist to average · Note: Use brighter woodland openings for stronger flowering.

  • Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea)
    Growing information

    Height: 9 in–3 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Purple · Season: Early–midsummer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Fine foliage and compact flower spikes.

  • Rose milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–6 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Pink · Season: Summer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Wet to normal · Note: Also called swamp milkweed; avoid prolonged drought.

  • Rough blazing star (Liatris aspera)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–5 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Purple · Season: Late summer–early fall · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Button-like flowers along upright stems.

  • Royal catchfly (Silene regia)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–4 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Red · Season: Mid–late summer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to slightly dry · Note: Vivid red—an uncommon flower color in the prairie palette.

  • Sand coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
    Growing information

    Height: 1.5 ft–3 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Yellow · Season: Early summer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Also called lanceleaf coreopsis; flowering may begin in late spring.

  • Savanna blazing star (Liatris scariosa)
    Growing information

    Height: 2.5 ft–5 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Purple · Season: Late summer–fall · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to average · Note: Butterfly magnet; blooms can extend well into fall.

  • Showy black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–3 ft (Medium) · Color: Golden yellow with dark centers · Season: Summer–early fall · Light: Sun · Moisture: Moist to average · Note: Spreads by rhizomes; allow space for colonies.

  • Slender mountain mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–3 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: White · Season: Summer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Moist to slightly dry · Note: Fine foliage; spreads by rhizomes.

  • Spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–3 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Pale yellow flowers; pink-lavender bracts · Season: Summer–early fall · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Best in dry, well-drained areas; showy bracts add color.

  • Sweet black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia subtomentosa)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–6 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Yellow with brown centers · Season: Mid–late summer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to average · Note: Tall; place toward the back.

  • Tall coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–8 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Yellow · Season: Midsummer–early fall · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to average · Note: Tall; place toward the back.

  • Virginia mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–3 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: White · Season: Midsummer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to average · Note: Spreads by rhizomes; aromatic foliage.

  • White prairie clover (Dalea candida)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–2 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: White · Season: Early–midsummer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Fine foliage and compact flower spikes.

  • Whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)
    Growing information

    Height: 6 in–2 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: White · Season: Summer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: A short milkweed; can spread aggressively by rhizomes.

  • Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
    Growing information

    Height: 2.5 ft–4 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Lavender-pink · Season: Midsummer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to slightly dry · Note: Can spread aggressively by rhizomes.

  • Wild petunia (Ruellia humilis)
    Growing information

    Height: 6 in–1 ft (Short) · Color: Lavender · Season: Summer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to dry · Note: Seed pods burst and fling seed nearby; can self-seed.

  • Wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–3 ft (Medium) · Color: White · Season: Early–midsummer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average · Note: Long-lasting, button-like flower clusters.

  • Yellow coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–4 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Yellow · Season: Summer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average · Note: An informal, naturalistic look—best for gardeners who enjoy a wilder style.

Fall
  • Aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–2 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Violet-blue · Season: Fall · Light: Sun · Moisture: Dry, well-drained · Note: Low, rounded form.

  • Downy sunflower (Helianthus mollis)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–4 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Yellow · Season: Late summer–early fall · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: May spread aggressively by rhizomes.

  • Drummond's aster (Symphyotrichum drummondii)
    Growing information

    Height: 1.5 ft–3.25 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Pale blue to white · Season: Late summer–fall · Light: Part sun · Moisture: Average to slightly dry · Note: Can self-seed aggressively; best at partly shaded edges.

  • Heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–2 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: White · Season: Fall · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Fine foliage and clouds of small flowers.

  • New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–6 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Purple to pink · Season: Late summer–fall · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to average · Note: Tall; can spread aggressively, especially by seed.

  • Old-field goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis)
    Growing information

    Height: 6 in–2.5 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Yellow · Season: Fall · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Also called gray goldenrod; relatively low stature.

  • Showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–4 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Yellow · Season: Late summer–early fall · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Average to dry, well-drained · Note: Upright flower plumes; avoid saturated soil.

  • Sky-blue aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense)
    Growing information

    Height: 1.5 ft–3 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Pale blue · Season: Late summer–fall · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Airy late-season color.

  • Smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)
    Growing information

    Height: 1.5 ft–3 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Blue-violet · Season: Late summer–early fall · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Average · Note: Smooth foliage and late-season flowers.

  • Stiff goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–5 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Yellow · Season: Late summer–fall · Light: Sun · Moisture: Moist to slightly dry · Note: Stiff stems and broad flower clusters.

Texture
  • Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–8 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Green foliage; bronze fall color · Season: Late summer–fall seedheads · Light: Sun · Moisture: Moist to slightly dry · Note: Very vigorous; can dominate small beds. Best with ample space and strong companions.

  • Blue wild indigo (Baptisia australis)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–4 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Blue-violet · Season: Late spring–early summer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Average to dry, well-drained · Note: Upright, bushy form; best flowering in sun. Native to parts of the central and eastern U.S.; Chicago-region native status is uncertain.

  • Compass plant (Silphium laciniatum)
    Growing information

    Height: 6 ft–12 ft (Tall) · Color: Yellow · Season: Midsummer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Moist to slightly dry · Note: Tall; large divided leaves and towering flower stems.

  • Cream wild indigo (Baptisia bracteata)
    Growing information

    Height: 1.5 ft–2.5 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Cream-yellow · Season: Spring · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Low, bushy form; allow room for its spreading outline.

  • Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–7 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Green foliage; golden-brown seedheads · Season: Late summer–fall seedheads · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to slightly dry · Note: Very vigorous; can dominate small beds. Best with ample space and strong companions.

  • Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–3 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Purple flowers; gray-green foliage · Season: Early–midsummer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Low, bushy form with fine-textured foliage and flower spikes.

  • Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–3 ft (Medium) · Color: Blue-green foliage; copper fall color · Season: Late summer–fall seedheads · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Upright clumps; avoid overly rich or wet soil.

  • New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–3.25 ft (Medium) · Color: White · Season: Early–midsummer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Average to slightly dry · Note: Compact, bushy shrub form.

  • Nodding onion (Allium cernuum)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–1.5 ft (Short) · Color: Pink to pale pink · Season: Summer · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Average, well-drained · Note: Nodding flowerheads; use brighter woodland edges.

  • Prairie alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–2 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Green foliage; greenish-white flowers · Season: Late spring–early summer · Light: Sun to part shade · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Clump-forming foliage; use light shade rather than deep shade.

  • Prairie dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–10 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Yellow · Season: Late summer–early fall · Light: Sun · Moisture: Moist to slightly dry · Note: Tall flower stems above broad basal leaves.

  • Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
    Growing information

    Height: 1.5 ft–3 ft (Short / Medium) · Color: Green foliage; tan seedheads · Season: Late summer–fall seedheads · Light: Sun · Moisture: Average to dry · Note: Fine-textured clumps; foliage usually 1–2 ft tall.

  • Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–5 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Blue-green foliage; white flowerheads · Season: Mid–late summer · Light: Sun · Moisture: Moist to slightly dry · Note: Bold, sword-like foliage and rounded flowerheads.

  • River oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
    Growing information

    Height: 1.5 ft–4 ft (Short / Medium / Tall) · Color: Green seedheads, aging bronze · Season: Summer–fall seedheads · Light: Part sun to part shade · Moisture: Moist to average · Note: Can spread aggressively, especially by seed; ornamental hanging seedheads.

  • Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)
    Growing information

    Height: 2 ft–2.5 ft (Medium) · Color: Green foliage; tan seedheads · Season: Summer–fall seedheads · Light: Sun · Moisture: Dry · Note: Fine texture with seedheads along one side of the stem.

  • Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
    Growing information

    Height: 3 ft–6 ft (Medium / Tall) · Color: Green foliage; airy tan seedheads · Season: Summer–fall seedheads · Light: Sun to part sun · Moisture: Moist to average · Note: Very vigorous; can dominate small beds. Best with ample space and strong companions.

  • Tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa)
    Growing information

    Height: 1 ft–4 ft (Short / Medium / Tall) · Color: Green foliage; airy tan seedheads · Season: Summer seedheads · Light: Part sun to part shade · Moisture: Moist · Note: Best in cooler, moist pockets; not a dry-prairie grass.

Show / hide ▾Growing & planting details
Growth habit Clustered basal rosettes; short rhizomes often produce plantlets around the base
Root form Rhizomes
Soil pH Published cultivation guidance lists acidic soil conditions; no optimal numeric interval is established.
Cultivation hardiness zones Zones 3a–8b (general cultivation guidance)
Drought tolerance Severe drought can cause yellowing leaves and wilting
Salt tolerance Medium

Plant identification & seed reference

Botanical name Penstemon digitalis
Other common names foxglove beard tongue; Foxglove Beardtongue; Smooth Beardtongue; Tall White Beardtongue; White Beardtongue
Seed germination USDA lists cold stratification as not required; seed-lot response may vary.
Plant family Scrophulariaceae
Seeds per pound — reference estimate2080000 clean seeds/lb (species reference average; seed lots vary).
USDA NRCS Iowa Native Seed Calculator (2024), species reference table, PDF p. 18; 130000 seeds/oz × 16; https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/api/CPSFile/47969/Native_Seeding_Calculator_2024

Plant characteristics

This perennial plant is medium in height native plant. Its showy flowers attract hummingbirds and others.  It can be great accent plants for both their foliage and flowers.

  • Flower Color White
  • Flower Time June, July
    • Show / hide ▾Native range & C-value

    State nativity describes a broad range. Use the Chicago-region assessment for local context; a state listing does not establish county nativity.

    Wetland indicator — NWPL 2022 Midwest FAC
    C-value — Chicago region, Flora 2017 4
    Chicago-region native — Flora 2017 Yes
    Native range — U.S. states Alabama; Arkansas; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri; Nebraska; Ohio; Oklahoma; Tennessee; Texas; Wisconsin
    County nativity Not yet verified; occurrence records do not establish nativity.
    Show / hide ▾Pollinators & wildlife

    Caterpillars & other plant-feeding insects

    This plant has published caterpillar host records for the butterflies and moths listed below. These are larval feeding relationships, separate from adult nectar visits. The records span a North American literature compilation and do not establish that every insect occurs locally or uses only this plant.

    Moths

    • Haploa confusa — Confused Haploa
    Show / hide ▾Frequently asked questions

    What are the ideal growing conditions for Foxglove Beardtongue?
    Light: Full to partial sun. Soil moisture: Average.

    How do I germinate and establish Foxglove Beardtongue from seed?
    USDA lists cold stratification as not required; seed-lot response may vary.

    Is Foxglove Beardtongue deer and herbivore resistant?
    Species-specific deer resistance has not been verified here. Even plants described as resistant may be browsed. Use physical protection where deer damage is a concern.

    When should I expect Foxglove Beardtongue to bloom?
    Typical flowering period: Late spring or early summer. Timing varies with location and weather.

    Show / hide ▾Sources & ecological notes

    Native range & ecological ratings: Flora of the Chicago Region (2017), via Universal FQA; USACE Chicago FQA (2017); Kew WCVP / Plants of the World Online; USACE National Wetland Plant List.

    Growing conditions & other references: Illinois Wildflowers, John Hilty; USDA NRCS PLANTS; NC State Extension Plant Toolbox.

    Wildlife records: Shropshire & Tallamy: caterpillar hosts (2025); Smith et al.: pollen-host records (2025).

    Native range does not identify the origin of the seed or plants offered. Community and wildlife records apply to the locations and conditions described.

    Research notes & credits

    USACE/ERDC fqadata — Chicago Region FQA 2017. Herman, B., Sliwinski, R. & Whitaker, S. (2017), Chicago Region FQA Calculator; distributed by USACE/ERDC in fqadata under CC0. Values may differ from Flora of the Chicago Region (2017). CC0 dedication. Retained for comparison; the displayed C-value follows Flora database 80.

    Range data: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; 4 June 2026 release, accessed 7 September 2026. © The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. CC BY 3.0; selected and reformatted. Kew cannot warrant the quality or accuracy of these data. This use has no Kew endorsement.

    Caterpillar host records: Shropshire, K.J. & Tallamy, D.W. (2025), Lepidoptera of North America, Supplement 1. Contains information from this database made available under the Open Database License (ODbL 1.0). Natural Communities selected species-level records and screened source qualifications. The complete selection and transformation instructions for this page are available below under the same license.

    Smith et al. (2025) — pollen-host literature dataset. Smith, C., Bachelder, N., Russell, A.L., Morales, V., Mosher, A.R. & Seltmann, K.C. (2025), Oecologia 207:13, DOI 10.1007/s00442-024-05653-5. Data release 14757220, CC BY 4.0; selected genus-level pollen-host records from russell_formatted-15Aug2024.csv summarized. Family records and model predictions excluded; no endorsement implied. CC BY 4.0.

    Flora rating attribution: Kenneth Johnson (2018), Flora of the Chicago Region UFQA Database, following Gerould Wilhelm and Laura Rericha (2017), Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Individual rating facts are presented with original commentary; the calculator’s software license is not treated as a license for the underlying Flora publication.

    Caterpillar research records

    Plant: Penstemon digitalis

    Record scope: Host literature synthesis; no county nativity or local insect occurrence inferred.

    Shropshire & Tallamy (2025) · Original research dataset · Reuse license: ODbL-1.0

    Plant names in the source Source insect record IDs
    Penstemon digitalis 206618

    How these records were selected

    To reproduce this selection, use the “UDELep May 2025” worksheet in the original research dataset.

    1. Match the insect record IDs above to column A (UDLepID). Within each table row, pair every listed insect ID with every listed source plant name.
    2. Use the first two words in column H for the insect’s scientific name, column E for its common name, and column AB for its source category.
    3. Treat the selected pairs as reported caterpillar host records. Keep all other source fields unchanged and outside this selected table. Include no other rows or host pairs.
    4. Group butterflies and skippers together, and the other categories as moths. Retain the source’s exotic-category labels and sort display names by scientific insect name.

    Growing guidance: Illinois Extension — Keeping deer out of the yard and garden. Selected facts in original wording. General deer advice is not a species resistance rating.

    Plant Shipping & Care

    We want to ensure that our customers get what they want, a native backyard oasis. To do that, we need to follow a few simple guidelines and give you some information and pointers to make sure you get your plants delivered in a healthy state.

    As a reminder, you will receive an email to confirm your pickup or shipping window just before the plants are ready. See Order Fulfillment below for seasonal fulfillment windows.

     

    Choices to Receive Your Plants & Accessories

    • Website orders: Seed, plugs and bare-root plants offered for shipping are shipped to your address. Shipping charges are calculated at checkout.
    • Container trees and shrubs: Some #3 and #5 container options are offered for scheduled pickup only. Check the selected product option and the cart pickup instructions before ordering. Pickup and shipped items require separate orders where indicated in the cart.
    • Wholesale orders: Delivery and pickup are arranged separately according to the order, supplier yard and location. Wholesale pickup is free.
    • Pickup locations and dates are confirmed by email. Please wait for confirmation before traveling to a pickup site. Our offices are not retail stores or nursery pickup locations.

     

    Order Fulfilment - When Your Plants or Other Items Will Be Ready

    We take orders all year long and seed is shipped all year, but we only provide the plants to you in certain fulfillment windows to ensure healthy plants.

    Wholesale Orders

    • Shipped or are Ready For Pick Up As Requested.

     

    Retail & Website Orders

    • Seed Typically Ships Out Within One Week Of Order All Year Long
    • Typically, single species flats ship when ready, sometimes as soon as early to mid-April (depends on weather) through early-October.
    • Mixed species kits are batched and shipped as indicated on the product page.
    • If a plant order is placed while outside of the plant fulfillment window your plants will be reserved through your payment, however, the order will not be fulfilled and shipped until the following spring. We don't want to provide you plants when they won't be happy during the cold winter months. 
    • Early in the spring and later in the fall certain species may be dormant or partially dormant with brown leaves, however they will return to grow healthy next growing season.
    • Your order may arrive in several different shipments.
    • If certain plants within an order will not be available until a later date, we may choose to hold the full order until all are ready.  In certain circumstances, we may choose to send them in two separate shipments 
    • Fulfillment is always dependent upon plant availability.  We try our best but sometimes plants do not overwinter well and perish.  If a plant is on back order you will receive an email indicating the estimated shipping date.  If we can not provide the plant we will first notify you and give you an option of substitution or a refund of that individual species.
    • Plants are typically only packaged and shipped on Mondays to ensure they do not sit in the harsh delivery facility for extended periods of time over the weekend. You will receive a confirmation email once your delivery has been shipped and to estimate your delivery date.
    • Apparel & accessories are ready typically within one to two weeks. See product page for holiday shipping.

    Where We Ship

     

     

          What to Expect When Receiving Your Delivery

          • Your plants will be packaged with the utmost care
          • We will need to cut back certain plants prior to shipping. This seems counter-intuitive, however, the fewer leaves the less water the plants can lose during shipping, resulting in healthier plants for you. This also enables the plants to fit within the protective packaging and shipped safely.

           

             Shipments

            • Larger plant shipments will look similar to the picture below with a tray of your plants and a cardboard box to protect them during shipping.

             

             

            What to Do With Your Plants After  Receiving Your Delivery

            • Unpack your order IMMEDIATELY
            • Inspect for damage and report any issues immediately to Natives@NaturalCommunities.net
            • Water your plants
            • Install your plants as quickly as possible and water the entire garden area thoroughly
            • If you cannot install your plants immediately
              • Some plants may not be in a container, put them into some kind of a container such as a paper cup with loose soil until installation
              • Make sure each plant is receiving the appropriate amount of light.
              • Continue to water daily each morning and possibly again in the afternoon
              • No additional fertilizer is needed
            How to install native plugs
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