Penstemon cobaea var. purpureus
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Species Native to Missouri
Common Name: dew flower
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Plantaginaceae
Zone: 5 to 8
Native Range: Central United States
Height: 1 to 3 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: May
Bloom Description: Purple
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Tolerates: Dry Soil, Shallow, Rocky Soil, Drought, Deer

Culture

Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Prefers somewhat dry, calcareous soils. Avoid wet, poorly-drained soils.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Penstemon cobaea var. purpureus has uniformly purple flowers whereas the species, Penstemon cobaea, has white to pale lilac flowers. Var. purpureus is an uncommon, clump-forming, Missouri-native perennial which occurs only on certain limestone glades in the area of the White River and its tributaries in the southern Missouri Ozarks. Typically grows 1-2.5' tall. Features loose, terminal panicles of violet-purple to rose-purple tubular flowers (to 2" long) atop erect, rigid, downy stems. Flowers bloom in mid-spring and are somewhat larger than many of the other species of penstemon. Downy, clasping, lance-shaped upper leaves. Penstemon in Greek means five stamens (four are fertile and one is sterile). Penstemons are sometimes commonly called beard tongues because the sterile stamen has a tuft of small hairs. Var. purpureus is sometimes commonly called purple beard tongue.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Root rot can occur in wet, poorly-drained soils.

Garden Uses

A rare plant for limestone rock gardens, native plant gardens or borders.

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