Beardlip Penstemon. Penstemon barbatus, Snapdragon or Figwort Family: ( Scrophulariaceae ), Beardlip Penstemon. Also called: Southwestern Penstemon, Golden-Beard Penstemon, Bearded Tongue, Scarlet Bugler, Chelone barbata, Penstemon barbatus subsp. barbatus. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. Beardlip penstemon is a herbacious, short lived, perennial, shrub. Pollinated by hummingbirds. Beardlip penstemon needs constant, but well-drained water during the entire growing season to do well. In Spanish-speaking New Mexico and southern Colorado, it is called varita de San Jose -- "St. Joseph's staff." Quick Notes: Height: About 3 - 4 feet in height. Flowers: Red corollas with a reflexed lower lip. The bottom edge of the flower bends back towards the stem. The sterile stamen has noticeable hairs. 1-1 � inches in length. Flowers are singly arranged on a main stalk. Stalk: Several erect, sparsely leaved stems with red, bilaterally symmetrical flowers in a long, open, interrupted cluster. When the plant is not flowering, there are no stems. Flowering Time: June to October. After early summer rains and monsoon rains. Fruit: Green - gray, spineless fruit, 1 to 1-1/2 inches long, 3/4 to 1 inches in diameter dry when ripe. Seeds 3/10 inches in diameter, rounded, smooth, and cream colored. Seeds: Seedpods 1 - 1 1/2" long, 3/8 - 1/2" in diameter; a cylindrical pod; short-pointed at ends, reddish; maturing in summer, remaining attached, often opening late; many elliptical flattened shiny brown; seeds. Leaves: Linear to lance-shaped, green to blue leaves. Opposite. Entire. Up to 5" long. They form a basal rosette until the plant flowers. Found: Native plant, found throughout higher elevations in Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Texas. Hardiness: USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 �C (-30 �F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 �C (-25 �F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 �C (-20 �F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 �C (-15 �F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 �C (-10 �F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 �C (-5 �F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 �C (0 �F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 �C (5 �F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 �C (10 �F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F) Soil pH requirements: 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Elevation: 4,000 - 10,000 Feet. Habitat: Chalky/alkaline, Dry, Sandy, Well-drained/light soils. Beardlip penstemon needs constant, but well-drained water during the entire growing season to do well. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken July 29, 2009. Blue Ridge Lake, or Reservoir. Coconino National Forest, on the Mogollon Rim, Near Payson, Arizona.

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