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Close-up of the showy blueish-purple flowers of Rydberg's penstemon (Penstemon rydbergii). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Close-up of the showy blueish-purple flowers of Rydberg's penstemon (Penstemon rydbergii). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
A bumble bee visits the showy blueish-purple flowers of Rydberg's penstemon (Penstemon rydbergii). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
A patch of Rydberg's penstemon (Penstemon rydbergii) in the wild. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
A patch of Rydberg's penstemon (Penstemon rydbergii) in the wild. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.

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; seeds are nutrient-packed food for birds; overall plant is host to caterpillars/larvae of about a dozen species of native butterflies and moths including native Checkerspot butterflies like the Chalcedon Checkerspot, and the Mountain Beauty Moth
  • Native habitat/range: commonly found growing in moist meadows and streambanks with wet rocky soil, at mid to high elevations between 1200-3400m, in Northern California, most of Oregon (except areas in the northwestern part of the state) and central Washington. Portland Plant List - no. 
  • Special features & uses: deer resistant; hummingbird favorite; landscape uses include pollinator gardens, raingardens, and wet rock gardens 

Gardening with Rydberg’s Penstemon: Rydberg's penstemon is long-lived and one of the most showy wildflowers for Pacific Northwest habitat gardens. It prefers full sun, but can tolerate part shade and can handle a variety of soils. It tends to grow in moist meadows and streambanks, so be sure to plant it in a perennially moist location. Consider planting several (generally clumps of three to five spaced a couple feet apart) in a meadowscape with native grasses and other companion perennials such as columbine, lilies, western buttercup, triteleia and violets.

Photo Credit 1 (flower close): "Penstemon rydbergii Swayne" by peganum is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Photo Credit 2 (flower stalk): "rydberg's penstemon Penstemon rydbergii" by Paul and Jill is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Photo Credits 3 (with bee): "Penstemon rydbergii" by Matt Lavin is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. 

Photo Credits 4 & 5 (in a meadow): © Anders Hastings, some rights reserved (CC-BY)