notes and musings from a perennial gardener
Plant Profiles
This post was updated on June 18, 2023
Many people consider beardtongue or penstemon, sometimes called foxglove beard-tongue, a wildflower best left to native settings rather than featured in a suburban flowerbed. That’s because in its native forms, the petite flowers and slim profile doesn’t draw immediate attention.
Striking hybrids are starting to change that. Let’s take a closer look.
Old-fashioned Avens, or Geum as it’s often called now, is a lovely spring and early summer perennial that’s airy and well-behaved. For consistency I’ll call it Geum.
This flower is uncommon in the States but better known in Europe. It favors cooler summer conditions than is typical in much of the US. Fortunately in recent years Geums are becoming more available on this side of the pond.
Digitalis, better known as foxgloves, are among the most impressive of the tall perennials in any garden setting. Cottage gardens especially owe much of their charm to these statuesque, bumblebee-friendly flowers. (Foxes have nothing to do with them other than inspiring their whimsical name.)
Despite their charm, foxgloves have a reputation for being difficult to cultivate. They grow easily but can be tricky to sustain if you’re unfamiliar with their quirky lifecycle. Fortunately foxgloves can be managed successfully if you know what you’re dealing with. I’ll try to dispel some of the mystery here, and provide a few tips.