Penstemons a Favourite of Hummingbirds and Soon to be a Favourite for Gardeners

It seems that most gardeners and hummingbirds seem to have a similar taste in flowers. But many gardeners have not yet realized how great the penstemon or the beardtongue is. These easy-to-grow flowers are native to North America, and are a favourite of hummingbirds.

They grow an upright stalk, off of which dozens of flowers shaped like bells grow, and this shape is exactly what hummingbirds and bees like to go for.

The beardtongue and other wildflowers usually reach their blooming peak in August in mountainous areas, so this is where you can usually find hummingbirds at this time of year.

At lower elevations this flower will bloom in late spring or early summer, but the purple varieties seem to stick it out in August, as well.

Beardtongues can be found at many nurseries and they come in many different sizes to suit your taste. For drier areas it is best to get a smaller variety, but if you have a nice fertile flower bed, then a larger type can be great for borders in a garden.

[Via: wenatcheeworld.com]

Related posts:

1. Use Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds to your Garden
2. Flowers That Sow Themselves Good for Organic Gardeners
3. America's Favourite Flowers
4. Flowers and Feeders Attracting Hummingbirds
5. A Gardener's Favourite – the Daisy