Hackberry Beardtongue: A Rare Native Worth Knowing About
If you’ve stumbled across the name hackberry beardtongue in your native plant research, you’ve discovered one of the more mysterious members of the beloved penstemon family. Known scientifically as Penstemon subulatus, this perennial forb represents the kind of botanical puzzle that makes native plant gardening both fascinating and occasionally frustrating.
What Makes This Plant So Special (and Elusive)?
Hackberry beardtongue is native to the United States, but here’s where things get interesting—and a bit concerning for us gardening enthusiasts. This species appears to have an extremely limited range, found only in Arizona according to available botanical records. When a native plant has such a restricted distribution, it often means one of two things: either it’s incredibly specialized in its habitat requirements, or it’s quite rare in the wild.
The Reality Check for Gardeners
Here’s the honest truth about Penstemon subulatus: detailed growing information is virtually non-existent in horticultural literature. This lack of cultivation data is actually a red flag that suggests this species is either extremely rare or possibly not widely recognized in the botanical community. As responsible native plant gardeners, this should make us pause and consider our options carefully.
What We Do Know
The limited information available tells us that hackberry beardtongue is:
- A perennial forb (non-woody flowering plant)
- Native to Arizona specifically
- Part of the penstemon genus, known for their tubular flowers beloved by hummingbirds and native bees
A Word of Caution
Given the apparent rarity of this species and the lack of available seeds or plants in the nursery trade, I’d strongly recommend against attempting to collect this plant from the wild—even if you happen to find it. Rare native plants need our protection in their natural habitats, not removal for our gardens.
Better Alternatives for Your Garden
Instead of pursuing the elusive hackberry beardtongue, consider these well-documented and readily available penstemon species that offer similar benefits:
- Penstemon eatonii (Firecracker penstemon) – stunning red flowers
- Penstemon palmeri (Palmer’s penstemon) – fragrant pink blooms
- Penstemon parryi (Parry’s penstemon) – drought-tolerant with pink flowers
- Penstemon spectabilis (Showy penstemon) – large purple-blue flowers
These alternatives are not only easier to grow and find at native plant sales, but they’re also well-documented for their pollinator benefits and garden performance.
The Bottom Line
While hackberry beardtongue sounds intriguing, the lack of cultivation information and apparent rarity make it an impractical choice for home gardeners. Sometimes the most responsible thing we can do as native plant enthusiasts is to admire rare species from afar while choosing better-studied alternatives for our landscapes. Your local pollinators will be just as happy with a thriving firecracker penstemon as they would be with its mysterious cousin!
If you’re passionate about rare Arizona natives, consider supporting botanical gardens and conservation organizations that work to study and protect these special plants in their natural habitats instead.
