Penstemon grandiflorus (Large Beardtongue): Minnesota Wildflowers

Penstemon grandiflorus (Large Beardtongue)

Plant Info
Also known as:	Large-flowered Beardtongue, Large-flowered Penstemon
Genus:	Penstemon
Family:	Plantaginaceae (Plantain)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	sun; dry prairies, sandy soil
Bloom season:	May - July
Plant height:	12 to 40 inches
County distribution (click map to enlarge):
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park Rice Creek Trail Corridor

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Detailed Information

Flower:

Flowers are up to 2 inches long, tubular and slightly flattened. The upper lip of the tube is divided into 2 round lobes and is slightly shorter than the lower lip. The wide lower lip has 3 equally sized round lobes. Color is lavender to pink, with purple lines on the inside of the lower lip and a yellow-tipped white style that protrudes some from the center of the tube. Up to 6 flowers are whorled around the stem at the leaf axils in the upper part of the plant, each flower on a short stalk.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves look waxy, are bluish-green and generally oval or egg-shaped with a blunt point or rounded tip, about 3 inches long, up to 2 inches wide and tend to point up. Attachment is opposite; the lower leaves are stalkless and become more clasping and smaller as they ascend the stem. Leaf edges can curl up some. The main stem is smooth, thick and round, light green or reddish in color.

Fruit:

Seed head is a teardrop shaped capsule ½ to 1 inch long with the style forming a “tail” at the top; it dries to dark brown. Each contains numerous seeds.

Seeds are 2 to 4 millimeters long, dark brown, angular and irregularly shaped.

Notes:

All Penstemon species were formerly in the Scrophulariaceae (Figwort) family, but are now in Plantaginaceae (Plantain).

Where to buy native seed and plants

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Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

Photos by K. Chayka taken at Long Lake Regional Park, Ramsey County, and in Lac Qui Parle County. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in a private garden in Anoka County.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Lesli F
on: 2009-06-13 10:33:24

Lots of these growing alongside the roads in East Bethel Minnesota. Are they considered 'endangered here? I noticed they are on that list for Illinois.

Posted by: K Chayka
on: 2009-06-13 16:10:35

Large beardtongue is not considered a rare or endangered plant in MN. If you check the county distribution map on the USDA Plants database (see link above) you'll see it has a pretty large range in MN.

Posted by: Sue
on: 2009-06-15 13:28:13

Was riding horse trails in Upper Sioux Agency State Park - Granite Falls, MN. There were many of these in bloom but scattered. A pleasant site beside the trail.

Posted by: Alan in Hubbard County
on: 2009-07-19 20:13:52

Found several plants along the Heartland Trail between Nevis and Akeley.

Posted by: mike in camden state park lynd mn
on: 2010-05-24 15:15:09

i was told it is blue bell alfalfa only saw them onece and am still looking for them again in the park

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2010-05-26 15:28:40

I'm not sure what they were trying to tell you but Penstemon and alfalfa are not related species.

Posted by: Joel in Wild River State Park
on: 2010-05-31 22:10:05

In full bloom on May 31, 2010 at Wild River State Park.

Posted by: Robbi in Stearns County
on: 2010-06-11 22:29:46

This plant is in bloom in Stearns County. June 10, 2010

Posted by: Fred in Lake Bemidji State Park
on: 2010-06-13 19:11:09

In bloom in north roadside ditch of Country Road 20 next to Lake Bemidji State Park. 6-13-2010.

Posted by: Dave in Pope County
on: 2010-06-14 14:15:18

Quite a few Penstemon Grandiflorus at Glacial Lakes State Park near Starbuck. The patch along the road just east of the front entrance is about done blooming but there are lots blooming now along the trail out to Kettle Lake.

Posted by: Joe in Anoka Co.
on: 2010-09-08 18:40:15

Just outside the city of Anoka, there are scattered colonies of this flower by the Regional Treatment Center (a.k.a. the state hospital), viewable from 7th Avenue North, and by the Rum River Library which is just a bit further east. The library grounds have a tiny prairie restoration project, with this plant and tallgrass species, such as turkey-foot grass.

Posted by: Dave @Glacial Lakes State Park in Pope County, 3 miles south of Starbuck
on: 2011-06-06 22:53:13

The Large Beardtongue just started blooming. Lots of them flowering in the park this year, we've had lots of moisture.

Posted by: Marcia in Judson / Lake Crystal
on: 2011-06-08 12:54:12

I noticed Penstemon grandiflorus blooming in my little prairie planting this morning, 6/8/11. It's a beautiful plant and has lovely flowers!

Posted by: Stacy in Frazee
on: 2011-06-14 22:31:53

I saw them for the first time this evening when I took a walk around Frazee while my daughter was at dance class. They were growing on a bank near the railroad tracks. Very pretty!

Posted by: Ben in Eden Prairie
on: 2011-06-24 08:14:52

These are done blooming now, but there are scattered patches along Hwy 212 and Hwy 5. Very nice