'Onyx and Pearls' Beardtongue (Penstemon)
Perennial
- White & pale-lavender flowers attract pollinators.
- Dark foliage and stems add contrast.
- Drought tolerant & easy to grow.
- Native to North America.
- Zone 3-8, sun, 42" tall x 42" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
'Onyx and Pearls' beardtongue is tolerant of heat and drought and resistant to pests and disease, making it a breeze to grow, even for beginners! Try planting it in wildlife, pollinator, or cut flower gardens, and you won't be disappointed.
Details
Patent #: USPP 32,613
Common name: Beardtongue
Zone: 3 – 8
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun)
Height x width: 42″ X 38-42″
Flower color: White and purple
Foliage color: Near black
Season of interest: Summer
Bloom time: Early summer, midsummer
Features: Rain gardens, native, dry soils, drought tolerant, cold tolerant, best for beginners
Uses: Wildlife gardens, native plant gardens, cottage gardening, foundation planting, massing, naturalizing, specimen
How to Grow
Light: Full sun (> 6 hours sun) for best flowering and foliage color.
Water: Dry to medium. Water regularly until established. Plants have good drought tolerance.
Spacing: 38 - 42"
Fertilizing: Nothing special is required. If desired, apply a general-purpose garden fertilizer in early spring.
Winterizing: No special care is needed.
Maintenance & pruning: Cut back plants almost to the ground in late winter to early spring as soon as new growth appears
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
