PENSTEMON

the beard-tongue genus of the figwort order (Scrophulariales), containing about 250 species of plants native to North America, particularly the western United States. The flowers are usually large and showy, tubular, and bilaterally symmetrical and have four fertile stamens and one sterile stamen (staminode). Many species and varieties are popular in home gardens. The colourful flowers are white, yellow, blue, purple, or scarlet.