Plantaginaceae
Rydberg's beardtongue
Penstemon rydbergii
Also known as Rydberg's penstemon, Plains penstemon, Penstemon rydbergii subsp. typicus, Rocky Mountain beardtongue
Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Penstemon · Native Perennial · Pollinator Plant · Hummingbird Flower · Mountain West · Tubular Flowers · Purple Flowers · Wildflower · Drought Tolerant · Rocky Slopes
Rydberg's beardtongue is a tough, adaptable native perennial that performs best in well-drained soils with moderate moisture and partial to full sun. Its tubular purple-blue flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds and native bees, making it an excellent addition to a pollinator garden. Once established it requires minimal care; simply cut back spent flower stalks to encourage a tidy appearance.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 5 hours
- Watering
- Water moderately; keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 6–8
- Temperature
- -25°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 10 ft – 30 ft
- Spread
- 15 ft
- Spacing
- 18 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- Purple
- Foliage
- Green · Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
- Attracts
- Bees, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
More Penstemon
Related plants from the same genus
Buy this plant
No nurseries currently list it
No nursery lists Rydberg's beardtongue right now.