Penstemon (beardtongue) is a genus of flowering plants. It has over 280 different species of plants. Almost all the species are native to Nearctic (North America). Penstemons have lanced-shaped leaves and produce pink, red, white, and purple flowers.
Penstemons or beardtongues are easy to grow from seeds and can be incorporated into many gardens. In this article, I will show you some of the best penstemon companion plants you can grow in your garden.
Table of Contents
Also read: Candytuft Companion Plants
Artemisia
Artemisia is a good companion plant for penstemons. There are more than 300 species of Artemisia but only a few are grown in gardens. These garden cultivars are primarily herbaceous perennials. Some Artemisia species are known as wormwood, absinthe, southernwood, and mugwort.
Artemisia varies in size. They can grow andy where from a foot up to 5 feet tall and 1 to 10 feet wide. The size depends on the variety.
This species of plant are mainly grown for its beautiful filagree-like foliage. The foliage goes really well with the showy and colorful flowers of penstemons. The leaves have various shapes and whitish hairs and are arranged in alternative pairs.
The flowers are small and often clustered. They come in white or yellow.
Some species of Artemisia (tarragon) are highly toxic to pets and mildly toxic to humans. Be cautious and try to keep the plants out of reach of pets and children.
Some Artemisia species are considered invasive and are noxious weeds in certain parts of the United States. So, stick to the named and popular cultivars to avoid aggressive weeds in your garden.
Best Artemisia varieties to plant with Penstemon
- Artemisia abrotanum – Grows 2 to 4 feet tall. This variety has grayish-green leaves.
- Powis Castle – A hybrid variety that grows 3 to 5 feet tall. Has silver-gray foliage.
- Canyon Gray – A dwarf artemisia variety. Only grows up to 2 feet but spread up to 10 feet. A good option to plant as edging or ground cover.
- Silver Brocade – Another true dwarf plant. Only grows 6 to 8 inches tall and about 12 inches wide. A great choice for containers and pots.
Agave
Agave is a type of succulent that is native to Caribbeans and parts of North America. There are over 250 species of agaves. These plants grow best in hot and dry climates and won’t grow well in northern regions.
Agaves make a good companion for penstemons because they have a wonderful leaf structure, unlike other plants.
This plant comes in different sizes. Some varieties get massive and can grow up to 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide. These gigantic ones are generally not suitable as companion plants for Penstemon. The smaller ones that grow a few inches or a few feet are the best to plant with Penstemon.
Caring for agaves is very easy. They require little to no attention at all. Watering once a week is enough to keep them happy. Fertilization is not recommended.
Agave plants can bloom. However, they only bloom once in their lifetime and most agaves die after that. So, it is not recommended to encourage them to bloom.
Agave varieties to try
- Agave americana – Also known as the century plant. Blooms only once, usually after 10 to 25 years. This species spread rapidly and is considered invasive in Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Malawi, and Malta.
- Agave attenuate – A spineless species that grows about 4 to 5 feet tall and wide. A good companion for Penstemon.
- Agave victoria reginae – A small variety that grows about a foot wide and tall. Another good option to plant with Penstemon. Flowers in 20 to 30 years.
Common Milkweed
Common milkweed is another good companion plant for Penstemon. It is a herbaceous perennial and native to North America. This plant attracts Monarch butterflies. So, it is also a great plant for attracting butterflies to the garden.
Common milkweed grows about 2 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 2 1/2 feet wide. The flowers are white or pink and bloom in summer.
There are many other milkweed types to choose from. Below are some of the recommended varieties. These varieties can grow differently in size than common milkweed. So, choose a suitable variety for your garden.
Types of milkweed
- Butterfly weed – Grows up to 2 feet. Produces light orange flowers.
- Swamp milkweed – Grows 4 to 5 feet tall. Has pink, white, or pale purple flowers.
- Purple milkweed – Grows 3 to 4 feet tall and has red-purple flowers.
- Whorled milkweed – Small milkweed that grows 1 to 2 feet. The flowers are white.
Yarrow
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant. Yarrow is another great companion for Penstemon. This plant is native to Asia, Europe, and North America.
Yarrow grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. It has beautiful clusters of flowers in white, yellow, pink, red, purple, or orange.
Growing yarrow is easy too. It doesn’t require special soil mixes or fertilizer. Plant yarrow in well-draining soil and water regularly. This plant is drought-tolerant when established.
This plant is toxic to animals such as dogs, cats, and horses. However, poisoning is rare. Yarrow can also be invasive sometimes.
Types of yarrow
- Paprika – A hybrid yarrow variety. Produce red flower clusters that are 2 to 3 inches wide. Flowers fade into shades of pink eventually.
- New Vintage Red – Grows 12 to 15 inches tall and has bright red flowers.
- Little Moonshine – A compact variety that grows 9 to 12 inches tall. The flowers are bright yellow.
- Cerise Queen – Has dark green leaves and bright pink flowers.
Colorado Four O’Clock
Colorado Four o’clock (Mirabilis multiflora) is a plant in the Four o’clock family. This plant is native to the southwestern United States. Colorado Four o’clock is also known as desert, wild, showy, or Froebel’s four o’clock.
Four o’clock plants are herbaceous perennial flowering bushes. The flowers open in the late afternoon and last until the next morning. They are trumpet-shaped and come in magenta-pink color.
This plant can grow up to 2 feet and 6 feet wide.
Caring for Four o’clock is also quite simple. They need regular watering and fertilizing. Some pruning is also required to keep the plant in shape.
You can also grow other Four o’clock species as companion plants for Penstemon.
What can I plant next to Penstemon?
Artemisia, agave, common milkweed, yarrow, Colorado Four O’Clock, Hesperaloe, and baby blue rabbitbrush are good plants to plant next to Penstemon.
Where is the best place to plant penstemons?
Penstemon can be planted in flower beds or as a border. They grow best in well-draining, moist, fertile soil and under full sun.
Are penstemons good as cut flowers?
Yes. Penstemons are good as cut flowers.
Last update on 2024-05-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
