Penstemon

Penstemon Sp.
 
Flowers in the Penstemon genus are some of the few I can identify right away. They usually have tall flower stalks with long, tubular flowers which are often busy with pollinators. I have been lucky enough to find native Penstemon everywhere I have lived, but that is because it is the largest genus of plants native to North America at more than 280 species!

I learned they are also called beardtongues due to a hairy, tongue-like structure called a staminode, which sticks out of the plant. It is a non-reproductive part of the flower’s anatomy that scientists believe helps direct pollinators to the nectar and, subsequently, the areas containing pollen and pollen receptors.  

Penstemon have literally hundreds of common names, and that is just counting the native species. Cultivated Penstemon are very popular with gardeners. They come in almost any color imaginable and will attract butterflies, bees (honey and bumble), hummingbirds, and any number of other pollinators.

One of the most common garden species is the Foxglove (Penstemon digitalis). As their scientific name suggests, this plant is where we get the heart medication digitalis. In larger doses, it also makes an effective poison, although I do not recommend testing this out! There are numerous historical instances, and it was used as a murder weapon by Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers.

I love these flowers. Even the native plants in the wild come in some of the most spectacular colors! My favorites, however, are always the ones with bumble butts sticking out of them. 

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