penstemon

noun

pen·​ste·​mon pen(t)-ˈstē-mən  ˈpen(t)-stə- 

variants or less commonly pentstemon

: any of a genus (Penstemon) of perennial, chiefly North American herbs or low shrubs of the plantain 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 pinks …

—Lynn Ocone

Examples of penstemon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Foxgloves, delphiniums, snapdragons, lupins, stock, lavender, sage and penstemon provide vertical accents that contrast with and highlight the roses’ round blooms. — Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2026

There are 250 penstemon species, and most are native to California and other western states. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 4 June 2026

For summer-flowering perennials that provide plenty of nectar, consider rudbeckia, purple coneflower, bee balm, milkweed and penstemon, as well as some non-native plants such as catmint and lavender. — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026

For the curious and hopeful, look for the orange of poppies at Picacho Peak State Park and the spikey penstemon at Catalina State Park. — Mindy Sink, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined above