penstemon

American  

[pen-stee-muhn, pen-stuh-muhn] / pɛnˈsti mən, ˈpɛn stə mən /

noun

1. any of numerous chiefly North American plants belonging to the genus Penstemon, of the figwort family, some species of which are cultivated for their showy, variously colored flowers.

---

penstemon British  

/ pɛnˈstiːmən /

noun

1. a variant (esp US) of pentstemon

---

Etymology

Origin of penstemon

1750–60; variant of pentstemon (> New Latin Penstemon genus name)

Example Sentences

When it was time to plant, Pennes installed repeat groupings of three, including ceanothus, Canyon Prince Wild Rye and penstemon.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2024

By summer, the meadows are illuminated with the bright colors of blue bells, paintbrush, columbine, glacier lilies, purple penstemon and more.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 29, 2022

One bee, Osmia distincta, fed on just three species of beardtongue or penstemon, a summer-flowering perennial.

From Washington Post • Apr. 27, 2021

He expects the next harvest day sometime in August to focus on milkweed and penstemon seeds.

From Washington Times • Jul. 31, 2016

Where the ground was lately aglow with the marigold and the four-o'clock the tall penstemon now reaches out a hundred arms full-hung with trumpets of purple and pink.

From Our Italy by Warner, Charles Dudley