Tiger Beardtongue: A Rare Colorado Native Worth Protecting
Meet the tiger beardtongue (Penstemon mensarum), a fascinating native wildflower that’s as elusive as it is beautiful. This rare perennial forb calls Colorado home and represents one of nature’s more exclusive botanical treasures. If you’re lucky enough to encounter this plant in the wild or are considering adding it to your garden, there are some important things you should know.
A Rare Rocky Mountain Gem
Tiger beardtongue is what botanists call an endemic species—it’s found naturally only in Colorado. This makes it extra special in the world of native plants, but it also means we need to be particularly careful about how we interact with it. The plant currently has a Global Conservation Status of S3, which translates to Vulnerable. In plain terms, this means tiger beardtongue is quite rare, with typically only 21 to 100 known populations and somewhere between 3,000 to 10,000 individual plants in existence.
What Makes Tiger Beardtongue Special
As a member of the Penstemon family, tiger beardtongue is a herbaceous perennial forb—basically a non-woody flowering plant that comes back year after year. Like its beardtongue cousins, it likely produces tubular flowers that are magnets for pollinators, particularly hummingbirds and native bees. The tiger in its common name suggests it may have distinctive markings or coloration that sets it apart from other penstemons.
Should You Plant Tiger Beardtongue?
Here’s where things get a bit complicated. While tiger beardtongue is undoubtedly a beautiful native plant that would be a wonderful addition to any Colorado garden, its rarity status requires some serious consideration:
- Only source responsibly: If you do decide to grow tiger beardtongue, make absolutely sure you’re getting seeds or plants from reputable native plant nurseries that propagate their own stock—never collect from wild populations
- Consider alternatives: Colorado has many other stunning Penstemon species that are more common and readily available, such as Rocky Mountain penstemon (Penstemon strictus) or firecracker penstemon (Penstemon eatonii)
- Support conservation: Sometimes the best way to help a rare plant is to support habitat conservation efforts rather than cultivation
Growing Conditions and Care
While specific growing information for tiger beardtongue is limited due to its rarity, we can make educated guesses based on other Colorado penstemons and its natural habitat:
- Sunlight: Most penstemons prefer full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-draining soil is essential—penstemons generally hate wet feet
- Water: Once established, likely drought-tolerant like most Colorado natives
- Climate: Adapted to Colorado’s challenging climate with hot summers and cold winters
Garden Design Ideas
If you’re fortunate enough to grow tiger beardtongue, it would be perfect for:
- Native plant gardens showcasing Colorado’s unique flora
- Rock gardens or xeriscapes
- Pollinator gardens (penstemons are pollinator magnets!)
- Educational or conservation-focused landscapes
The Bottom Line
Tiger beardtongue represents the wild beauty and botanical diversity that makes Colorado special. While it’s tempting to want to grow every cool native plant we discover, sometimes the most responsible approach with rare species is admiration from a distance. If you’re passionate about supporting this species, consider getting involved with native plant societies, habitat restoration projects, or botanical research efforts.
For your home garden, there are plenty of other spectacular Colorado penstemons that will give you that same beardtongue beauty without the conservation concerns. Your local native plant society can point you toward the best options for your specific area and growing conditions.
Remember: every rare plant species is a unique thread in the tapestry of Colorado’s natural heritage. By making thoughtful choices about what we plant and how we source our plants, we can all be part of protecting these botanical treasures for future generations to enjoy.
