About

Penstemon barbatus, known by the common names golden-beard penstemon, and beardlip penstemon, is a flowering plant native to the western United States.

The plant has spikes of clustered, tubular, scarlet blossoms with yellow hairs on their lower lip; the flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds. It is commonly grown in xeriscape and conventional gardens.

Where it grows

Penstemon barbatus grows in the Four Corners states, Texas, and in much of Mexico. In Colorado it grows largely in southern mountain counties, only being found as far north as Garfield County. The native range of the species in Utah does not go so far north with it reaching to Wayne and San Juan counties. Only the southeastern quarter of New Mexico lacks reports of the species and it grows in much of Arizona. Most of the range of P. barbatus in Texas is in the counties in the Big Bend region and to the north in the state's far west.

Uses

The Zuni people rub the chewed root of the torreyi subspecies over the rabbit stick to ensure success in the hunt.

Other Penstemon plants

Firleaf beardtongue · Stemless beardtongue · Sharpleaf penstemon · Los Alamos beardtongue · Alberta beardtongue · White penstemon · White River Beardtongue · Whitemargin beardtongue · Gilia beardtongue · Penstemon angelicus · Siskiyou beardtongue · Broadbeard beardtongue