penstemon

noun

variants or less commonly pentstemon
: any of a genus (Penstemon) of perennial, chiefly North American herbs or low shrubs of the snapdragon family typically with spikes of showy, two-lipped, tubular flowers with two lobes on the upper lip and three lobes on the lower lip : beardtongue
In the pastel planting, pink penstemons with upright spikes of tubular flowers contrast with such mounding plants as pinksLynn Ocone

Examples of penstemon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Sutherland Trail offers the best assortment of flowers with poppies, cream cups, lupines, penstemon and desert chicory. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2024 Only one type of plant, the white-margined penstemon, is being reviewed. Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2024 In Brian Bautista’s yard, upright showy penstemon, aromatic hummingbird sage, hardy toyon trees, and two types of milkweed — dramatic plants requiring little water — attract birds, butterflies and bees and flourish amid the Bermuda grass lawns. Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2023 Midnight Masquerade penstemon Hirsch likes this newer penstemon − also known as beardtongue − for its deep burgundy leaves that set off lavender and white flowers. Joanne Kempinger Demski, Journal Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2023 Every inch of the perimeter is covered with plastic and ceramic pots brimming with buckwheat and verbena, dudleya, penstemon and black sage. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2023 Dark Towers penstemon would be a good choice. Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 27 Jan. 2022 What to look for: The Sutherland Trail offers the best assortment of flowers with fields of poppies, cream cups, lupines, penstemon and desert chicory. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 3 Feb. 2023 Nectar-producing plants such as penstemon, bee balm, and columbine are attractive to hummingbirds. Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'penstemon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from penta- + Greek stēmōn warp, thread — more at stamen

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of penstemon was in 1760

Dictionary Entries Near penstemon

Cite this Entry

“Penstemon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penstemon. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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