Flower profile

Broadbeard beardtongue

Penstemon angustifolius

Native to Nebraska

Broadbeard beardtongue is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Nebraska it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.

11states

235NE sightings*

1,767U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Nebraska

Quick look

Penstemon angustifolius is a perennial semi-evergreen forb belonging to the plantain family. This species is 1 out of roughly 273 species of Penstemon. This species is also known as broadbeard beardtongue. This forb is native to the central United States and can be noticed by its brightly and highly variable colored flowers.
From Wikipedia's article Penstemon angustifolius, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 11 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Nebraska. ^NatureServe
In Nebraska, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 3 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 235 research-grade sightings of it in Nebraska, ranking #62 among the 108 flowers on our Nebraska list. ^iNaturalist

Broadbeard beardtongue gift ideas

Handmade broadbeard beardtongue gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

Placeholder

Broadbeard beardtongue art print
Gift pick coming soon
Placeholder

Broadbeard beardtongue greeting card
Gift pick coming soon
Placeholder

Broadbeard beardtongue mug
Gift pick coming soon
Placeholder

Broadbeard beardtongue earrings
Gift pick coming soon
Placeholder

Broadbeard beardtongue embroidery pattern
Gift pick coming soon
Placeholder

Broadbeard beardtongue sticker
Gift pick coming soon

When does it bloom?

In Nebraska, most flowering sightings come in May–June.

Flowering records by month in Nebraska (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (25 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Nebraska: Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Nebraska. ^{163 NAC 4-004}
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MT (S2), OK (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleToxic (moderate, per USDA)

USDA PLANTS rates its toxicity as “moderate.” (USDA's rating covers people and livestock and doesn't say which parts.) NC State Extension has no page for it. ^{USDA PLANTS}

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records broadbeard beardtongue in 11 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming.

Nebraska counties with USDA records: Antelope, Banner, Blaine, Box Butte, Brown, Chase, Cherry, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Grant, Holt, Hooker, Keith, Kimball, Lincoln, Logan, Morrill, Perkins, Platte, Rock, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sioux, Thomas.

More Nebraska flowers

Large-flowered beardtongue

Penstemon grandiflorus

Native

🌼 Blooms in NE: May–July

White-flower beardtongue

Penstemon albidus

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in NE

Common milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Native

🌼 Blooms in NE: June–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile PEAN4.
iNaturalist, Penstemon angustifolius: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Penstemon angustifolius (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Nebraska: Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004).
Nebraska: Nebraska noxious weeds (25 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 10, § 001.02).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Penstemon angustifolius (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: USDA PLANTS.
Photo: Larry Jensen via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.