This clump-forming perennial grows 2 to 4 feet tall with showy, white blooms that attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies during the gap between spring ephemerals and summer flowers. It has a long blooming season, and its large size and rapid vertical growth enable it to hold its own against weeds. The beautiful display and non-aggressive habit make foxglove penstemon an ideal plant for residential landscaping, especially as the basal rosettes are semi-evergreen in warmer climates. The native range of this species is the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and scattered spots in the East and South. It thrives in full sun or light shade and moist to occasionally dry, well-drained loamy, sandy, or even clay soils. It’s essential that the soils be well drained or the plant will develop root rot. Foxglove penstemon is easy to grow and unbothered by diseases. It tolerates occasional dryness, but the leaves may turn yellow and the plant may wilt in severe drought. The stems tend to flop over and break off after flowering is over; this helps to spread the seeds. Remove the seed heads before winter to prevent spread.

In spring, one or more flowering stalks emerge from rosettes of basal leaves. The erect stems produce stalked clusters of tubular flowers, each with a prominent staminode, or stamen, that extends to the mouth of the corolla. Some staminodes are hairy, giving the impression of an open mouth with a fuzzy, protruding tongue. This characteristic, along with its resemblance to the European foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), gave rise to the common name “foxglove beardtongue.” The native species differs from the toxic European species in that foxglove beardtongue has opposite leaves and hairless leaves and stalks. Other common names include Mississippi beardtongue, smooth white penstemon, and talus slope penstemon. . Around 2005, penstemons were moved from the Figwort family to the Plantain family. 
 
Native habitats include low, moist areas; prairies; open woodlands; acidic gravel seeps; and floodplain forests. Plant in full sun to light shade in small groups in pollinator gardens, naturalized areas, borders, drought-tolerant gardens, and rock gardens. 
 
Plant Characteristics:
Grows 3-4’ tall and 1-2’ wide.      
                                              
Prefers at least six hours of sun per day but tolerates 4-6 hours.  
 
Prefers moist to medium-moist, loamy soils but adapts to a wide range of conditions, including occasionally dry soils with clay or sand. Tolerates clay if well drained. 
 
White, 1” flowers occur May-July in panicles at the top of flowering stems. Some flowers have fine, violet lines in the corolla that function as nectar guides. Corolla has a 3-lobed lower lip and 2-lobed upper lip. The plant is hairless except for the outer surface of the scentless flwoers.  Followed by oval, brown seed capsules containing numerous gray, pitted seeds from July to August.
 
Glossy, simple, green leaves are opposite and oblong or elliptical in shape. Basal leaves appear in rosettes and are oval, 2-6” long, smooth margins. Stem leaves are lance to oblong shaped, finely serrated, and up to 5” long.
 
Slender, smooth stems are green and sometimes tinged with purple.
 
This root system consists of short rhizomes that can spread to form clumps.
 
Wildlife Value:
The Penstemon genus is host to 10 species of Lepidoptera larvae, including the Baltimore, Arachne, and chalcedon checkerspot butterflies. Members of the genus Penstemon support the following specialized bee: Osmia (Melanosmia) distincta.The larvae of several small moth species feed on the seeds. Primary pollinators are bumble bees, mason bees, and leafcutter bees. Song birds occasionally eat the seeds, and deer and rabbits may browse the young foliage.
 
Medicinal, Edible, and Other Uses:
Some penstemon species have been used to treat menstrual pain, stomach aches, burns, wounds, and coughs.
 
Toxicity is unknown.
 
Resources:
North Carolina Extension: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/penstemon-digitalis/
 
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=pedi
 
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penstemon
 
Illinois Wildflowers: https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/fx_penstemonx.htm
 
GrowIt, BuildIt: https://growitbuildit.com/foxglove-beardtongue-guide-penstemon-digitalis/
 
Photos used with permission from Jason Bennett