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Pure Air Natives
Penstemon calycosus

Calico Beardtongue

Plants

50 Plug Tray Out of Stock

Description

Calico Beardtongue (Penstemon calycosus) is a native perennial with tubular pink flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer. The flowers attract bees and other pollinators, especially native bees. Plants grow upright with multiple flowering stems and typically reach a few feet tall.

Calico Beardtongue grows best in full sun to partial shade and prefers medium to dry soils. It is commonly found in prairies and open woodlands. This species works well in native gardens, prairie plantings, and pollinator habitats where spring and early summer blooms are desired.

Details

SociabilityClumps
Sun RequirementsFull Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Soil MoistureMesic, Wet-Mesic
Height2-3'
USDA Zones4-7
Bloom ColorPink
Bloom PeriodJune, July
Plant Spacing1-2'

Seeds & Seed Mixes:

Seeds and seed mixes ship nationwide, year-round, typically within 3–5 business days. If you would like to postpone a seed mix shipment until fall, please note this at checkout.

Live Plants:

Live plants are available year-round while inventory lasts and ship to all states except California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Alaska, and Hawaii. After your order is placed, we’ll contact you to coordinate a spring shipping window, as many plants are overwintered and ship once dormancy breaks.

Estimated shipping for 2026 plant orders begins in mid-April, weather permitting.

If you’re looking to secure plants in advance or need larger quantities for a project, we offer contract growing options. Contact us to discuss your needs and request a quote. Additional species not listed online may also be available through contract grow.

Live Stakes:

Live stakes are available by request only and must be ordered by submitting a contact form. Ordering is open seasonally from November 1 through February 28. A minimum of 100 stakes per order is required, with at least 25 stakes per species.

Live stakes ship only to the following states: Missouri, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Iowa.

PLS stands for Pure Live Seed, an industry-standard measure of seed quality. It reflects the portion of seed in a batch that is viable and capable of germinating.

What this means for you: when you purchase 1 lb. of PLS seed, the physical weight of the seed you receive will be slightly more than 1 lb. That’s because we account for non-viable seed and natural inert material upfront, so you receive a full pound of live, plantable seed.

Many companies sell bulk seed by total weight, which can include filler and non-viable seed. By pricing based on PLS, we make sure you’re getting exactly what you paid for—high-quality native seed with more predictable, successful germination.

Want to dive deeper? Check out our in-depth article on what PLS is and why it matters.