I’ve been seeing a whole lot of this native wildflower lately. This early blooming perennial gets its common name from the flower’s resemblance to the foxglove, or digitalis plant.

The genus name (Penstemon) refers to the presence of a fifth stamen that is tipped with a little beard made up of a tuft of hairs.

Foxglove Beardtongue is characterized by spikes of white tubular flowers that bloom on 2 to 4 foot stems. Purple lines or stripes within the throat of the flower attract bees and other pollinators.

Butterflies and hummingbirds visit the flowers for nectar, and songbirds eat ripe seeds from the flower stems in fall and winter.

This year I even found this wildflower growing in my backyard. How cool is that?

Third Eye Herp
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