Higgins’ Beardtongue: A Rare Utah Native Worth Knowing About
If you’re a native plant enthusiast always on the lookout for unique additions to your garden, you might have stumbled across the name Higgins’ beardtongue. This intriguing perennial, scientifically known as Penstemon leonardii var. higginsii, is one of those plants that makes you pause and wonder—should I grow this rare beauty, or admire it from afar?
What Makes Higgins’ Beardtongue Special?
Higgins’ beardtongue is a perennial forb native to the United States, specifically found only in Utah. As a member of the Penstemon family, it shares the characteristic trumpet-shaped flowers that make beardtongues so beloved by gardeners and pollinators alike. However, this particular variety is quite the wallflower in the botanical world—it’s rarely discussed, seldom seen, and surprisingly under-documented.
Where Does It Call Home?
This native beauty has quite an exclusive address—it’s found only in Utah, making it a true regional treasure. Its limited geographic distribution is part of what makes this plant so special and, frankly, so mysterious.
The Rarity Factor: Proceed with Caution
Here’s where things get interesting (and a bit concerning). Higgins’ beardtongue carries a Global Conservation Status of S4S5T3?, which in plain English means its conservation status is somewhat undefined—not exactly the clear-cut information we’d hope for when deciding whether to add a plant to our gardens.
This uncertain status, combined with its limited range, suggests that if you’re considering growing this plant, you’ll want to be extra careful about sourcing. Only obtain plants or seeds from reputable, ethical suppliers who can guarantee responsible collection practices. Better yet, consider supporting conservation efforts for this species rather than trying to grow it in your home garden.
Growing Information: The Great Unknown
Unfortunately, specific growing information for Higgins’ beardtongue is surprisingly scarce. We know it’s a perennial forb—meaning it’s a non-woody plant that comes back year after year—but beyond that, the details get fuzzy. Information about its preferred growing conditions, hardiness zones, care requirements, and even its appearance is limited in readily available sources.
This lack of documentation is actually quite telling. It suggests that this variety is either:
- Extremely localized to very specific habitats
- Rare enough that few researchers have studied it extensively
- Difficult to distinguish from other Penstemon varieties without expert knowledge
Should You Grow It?
Given the uncertainty around this plant’s conservation status and the lack of available growing information, most gardeners would be better served by choosing other native Penstemon species. Utah gardeners interested in native beardtongues might consider better-documented alternatives like Penstemon palmeri (Palmer’s beardtongue) or Penstemon strictus (Rocky Mountain beardtongue).
However, if you’re a serious native plant conservationist with experience growing rare species, and you can source the plant ethically, Higgins’ beardtongue could be a meaningful addition to a conservation garden. Just remember: with rare plants comes great responsibility.
The Bottom Line
Higgins’ beardtongue represents one of those botanical mysteries that reminds us how much we still don’t know about our native flora. While its rarity and lack of documentation make it unsuitable for most home gardens, it serves as an important reminder of the incredible diversity of native plants in our landscapes—and the importance of protecting and studying these natural treasures.
For most gardeners, the best way to honor Higgins’ beardtongue is to support native plant conservation efforts and choose well-documented native alternatives that will thrive in your garden while supporting local ecosystems.
