Rydberg's Penstemon

Penstemon rydbergii Rydberg's penstemon, aka meadow beardtongue, is one of those wildflowers that takes center stage. The vegetation emerges in the spring as a bright green basal rosette followed by an upright stem generally standing up to two feet. By summer, countless striking blueish-purple, bearded flowers adorn all sides of the stem in dynamic whorls, like floral fireworks. It is a nutrient-rich source of food to hummingbirds, song birds, bumblebees, and butterflies and an excellent choice for pollinator gardens, moist meadowscapes and sunny raingardens.   Plant type/canopy layer: deciduous, perennial, herbaceous plant  Size at maturity: 12-24" tall, 36" wide Light requirements: full sun, part sun/part shade Moisture requirements: moist soil  Bloom time: May - August  Growth rate/ease: medium growth rate, easy to grow Wildlife support: flowers of all penstemon are highly attractive as a nectar source for hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and other insect pollinators; s