- Botanical name: Penstemon calycosus
- Other common names: long-sepal beardtongue
- Light: full sun, part shade, shade
- Water needs: low, medium, high
- Soil: clay, loam, sand, gravel
- Height: 2 – 3 ft
- Bloom: April, May
- Sociability: 2
- Wildlife value: bees, hummingbirds
Calico beardtongue is native from Tennessee north to Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana. It has light pink to light purple flowers that are much loved by bees and other pollinators.
This species of penstemon is more shade tolerant than others such as P. digitalis, and will also tolerate more moisture in the soil.
Spreading notes: Will self-seed over time
Maintenance notes: Stems can be cut back to 18 – 24 inches in the winter to provide habitat for bees
Sources: https://mtcubacenter.org/, https://www.wildflower.org/plants/, https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/plantfindersearch.aspx
