Location: Meadows, Env Center, Woodland Trail, Pavilions Greenroof
In Bloom: May and June

Penstemon digitalis, or foxglove beardtongue, is a wildflower that thrives on the grounds of Glenstone. While generally considered native from Maine to Florida and west to Texas, some believe that they are only truly native to the Mississippi River Basin. Though similar in appearance and sometimes called foxglove, Penstemon digitalis is not a foxglove (genus Digitalis) but a beardtongue (genus Penstemon). Growing between 3 to 5 feet tall, Penstemon digitalis produces white-purple flowers that are attractive to pollinators. The plant’s "tongue," a sterile stamen, serves as a landing pad allowing pollinators easy access to the nectar, which has a very high sugar concentration of 37%. Beardtongue has tubular flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and sphinx moths, and its seeds are popular with songbirds and turkeys.