Penstemon ‘Blackbeard’ PPAF

An alternate common name for Penstemon is Beard Tongue, because their flowers have a sterile stamen that is usually bristly, like a bearded tongue. Blackbeard gets its name from the combination of this fact along with its distinctive dark foliage. This is a newly introduced (2016) selection from Walters Gardens hybridized from P. digitalis and P. calycosus. Because both of these parent species are from the eastern US, it can handle more moisture and richer soils than the western species, though it can still tolerate a fair amount of drought. The dark leaf color holds up well throughout the warm months of summer. In spring, this perennial is topped with gorgeous tall stems of lilac to pink tubular flowers.