Jones’ Beardtongue: A Rare Utah Native Worth Seeking
If you’re a native plant enthusiast with a passion for rare finds, Penstemon ×jonesii might just be the holy grail you’ve been searching for. This elusive beardtongue hybrid is like the unicorn of the penstemon world – beautiful, mysterious, and incredibly hard to come by.
What Makes Jones’ Beardtongue Special?
Penstemon ×jonesii is a perennial forb, meaning it’s a non-woody flowering plant that comes back year after year. As a hybrid species (indicated by the × symbol), it represents a natural cross between two penstemon species, creating something uniquely special in the plant kingdom.
This beardtongue is native to the United States, specifically calling Utah home. Its extremely limited geographic distribution makes it one of the rarest penstemons you’ll encounter, found only in select locations within the Beehive State.
Garden Appeal and Landscape Role
Like its penstemon relatives, Jones’ beardtongue likely produces the characteristic tubular flowers that make this plant family so beloved. These blooms typically appear in shades of pink to purple and create stunning vertical interest in the garden.
This rare beauty would be perfectly suited for:
- Specialized native plant collections
- Rock gardens and xeriscapes
- Conservation-focused landscapes
- Botanical gardens and educational displays
Growing Conditions and Care
While specific growing information for this hybrid is limited due to its rarity, we can make educated assumptions based on other Utah penstemons and general beardtongue requirements:
Sunlight: Likely thrives in full sun conditions
Soil: Probably prefers well-draining soils, possibly sandy or rocky
Water: Once established, likely drought-tolerant with minimal water needs
Climate: Best suited for USDA hardiness zones that match Utah’s climate conditions
Pollinator and Wildlife Benefits
Though specific data isn’t available for this rare hybrid, penstemons are generally fantastic pollinator magnets. You can expect Jones’ beardtongue to potentially attract:
- Hummingbirds (they love those tubular flowers!)
- Native bees and other beneficial insects
- Butterflies during blooming season
The Reality Check: Should You Plant It?
Here’s where we need to have an honest conversation. While Penstemon ×jonesii sounds absolutely enchanting, its extreme rarity presents some real challenges:
Availability: You’re unlikely to find this plant at your local nursery or even specialized native plant sales. Its limited distribution means it’s simply not commercially available.
Conservation Concerns: If you do somehow encounter this plant, it’s crucial to ensure any material is responsibly sourced and not collected from wild populations.
Better Alternatives: Consider other Utah native penstemons that offer similar beauty but are more readily available and better studied, such as Penstemon cyaneus (dark blue beardtongue) or Penstemon utahensis (Utah beardtongue).
The Bottom Line
Penstemon ×jonesii represents the fascinating world of plant hybridization and the incredible diversity found in Utah’s native flora. While most gardeners won’t have the opportunity to grow this particular rarity, it serves as a wonderful reminder of why protecting native plant habitats and supporting conservation efforts is so important.
If you’re passionate about rare native plants, consider supporting botanical gardens and conservation organizations working to study and protect species like Jones’ beardtongue. And don’t forget – there are plenty of other spectacular penstemons waiting to grace your garden with their beauty and pollinator appeal!
