Penstemon, Calico (Penstemon calycosas)

Also called Calico Beard Tongue, Long-Sepal Beardtongue and Pride of the Mountains, this incredibly beautiful plant is native to North America and widely occurring east of the Mississippi River from Michigan to Maine and south to Georgia. The very showy late spring-early summer flowers are pale purplish-pinks on 2-4' tall spikes. A wonderful plant to add to a wildflower garden, Beardtongue will attract many pollinators.

Flower photo credit: Erin O'Hara