Flower profile

Broadbeard beardtongue

Penstemon angustifolius

Broadbeard beardtongue (Penstemon angustifolius) is a low shrub in the Plantaginaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–June across the U.S.

Native to Nebraska

Broadbeard beardtongue is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

11states where USDA records it

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
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 147 flowers on our Nebraska list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

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.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Broadbeard beardtongue a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 7.0 to 8.5 and winter lows down to -28 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: High
Moisture use: Low
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range: 7.0 to 8.5
Minimum temperature tolerated: -28 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 160
Annual precipitation range: 9 to 35 inches
Minimum root depth: 6 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Low
Growth rate: Rapid
Lifespan: Short
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Purple · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by: bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability: No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for PEAN4. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 139 counties across 11 states; the most are in Colorado (29), Nebraska (26), Kansas (22).

Other Penstemon on Bloomipedia (16): Foxglove beardtongue, Cobaea beardtongue, Whipple's penstemon, Beardlip penstemon, Palmer's penstemon, Front range beardtongue, Firecracker penstemon, Large-flowered beardtongue, Sidebells penstemon, Royal beardtongue.

More from the Plantaginaceae family (29 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Bird's-eye speedwell, Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax), Purple foxglove, White turtlehead, Heath speedwell, Canada toadflax, Culver's root, Texas toadflax.

More Nebraska flowers

Large-flowered beardtongue

Penstemon grandiflorus

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in NE

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.