Practical
Plants

Penstemon grandiflorus

Large Beard Tongue

a perennial member of the Penstemon genus in the family Scrophulariaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1.2 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A decoction of the roots has been used in the treatment of chest pains and stomach aches[4]. A decoction of the leaves has been used in the treatment of chills and fevers[4].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Stomachic

Environment

Range
Central N. America - Illinois to Minnesota, North Dakota, Kansas and Colorado.
Habitat
Prairies and plains[6]. Edges of sandy woods in Texas[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse[1]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in late spring. Alternatively, the seed can be sown in early summer in a greenhouse, the seedlings overwintered in the greenhouse and then planted out in the following spring[1]. Division in autumn[2]. Cuttings can be taken throughout the growing season, though August/September is best[1].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in ordinary rich garden soils so long as they are well-drained[1]. Requires plenty of moisture in the growing season[1]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is very cold hardy, but some protection from winter wet is beneficial for this plant[3].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  2. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩

  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  4. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2

  5. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  6. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

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