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

As the flood was beginning to wane, a monarch was crossing the valley, momentarily dipping down to sip nectar from a patch of penstemons still standing. —Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026

But smaller tubular flowers, such as penstemon and pentas, can attract both types of pollinators. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2026

The Sutherland Trail offers the best assortment of flowers with poppies, cream cups, lupines, penstemon and desert chicory. —Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 21 Feb. 2026

Zones: 4 to 9 Mature size: 2 to 5 feet tall x 1.5 feet wide Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; well-draining soil; light watering Also known as bearded tongue, penstemon is native to North America and produces large spikes with smaller tubular blooms in a range of colors. —Haniya Rae, Martha Stewart, 5 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined above