Hairy Beardtongue - PollinateHV Local Ecotype

This adaptable native wildflower is a charming and hardworking addition to the early summer landscape. Distinct from other Penstemons by its earlier bloom time and the fine, downy hairs that cover its slender stems, Hairy Beardtongue offers open clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers in soft hues of lavender, pale purple, and white. It gets its whimsical name from the fuzzy texture found on the protruding lower lip of the bloom. Standing just one to two feet tall, it is a versatile choice for rock gardens, cottage borders, or dry woodland edges, thriving in a wide range of sun and soil conditions.

Beyond its delicate beauty, this plant is an ecological powerhouse. Flowering from late May to late June, it provides a critical nectar source for bumblebees and hummingbirds before many summer perennials have woken up, and serves as a vital larval host for Checkerspot butterflies. The show doesn't end with the blooms; in autumn, the lance-shaped foliage transforms into a lovely golden-red, extending the visual interest of your native garden well into the cooler months.

This local ecotype seed is of Hudson Valley wild origin and has been scaled for production on our farm in Accord, NY.

PollinateHV is a collaboration between the Hudson Valley Seed Company and Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley in support of threatened native pollinators.

 We worked with a team of expert botanists, seed collectors, nursery growers and farmers to produce local ecotype native seeds to support at-risk Hudson Valley pollinators. You can find more information about this project at pollinatehv.org/seed-work. Learn more about the Hudson Valley's threatened pollinators and find resources to install pollinator habitat at all scales at pollinatehv.org.