The green foliage on Penstemon whippleanus provides a beautiful backdrop for clusters of rich, wine-purple bells that bloom from mid-summer into fall. Dying back into an above-ground woody stem, this plant emerges with dark green, glossy leaves come springtime. Deadheading the plant may encourage a second round of blooms and will help maintain plant vigor.

Penstemon whippleanus (commonly called Beardtongue) prefers plenty of sun with a bit of afternoon shade, tolerating full sun where necessary. Penstemon whippleanus likes well-drained, gritty or sandy soil. The plant should be kept moist until established. Once established, it is tolerant of drought and coastal conditions. This plant is native North America specifically to Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona according to the USDA’s Plant Profile Database. The plant can be successfully grown in decorative pots but is often used in naturalized landscape designs.