Penstemon cobaea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Penstemon cobaea |
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The Penstemon cobaea is a beautiful flowering plant. It is often called cobaea beardtongue, prairie beardtongue, or foxglove penstemon. This plant belongs to the plantain family.
It naturally grows in the central United States. You can find it mainly in the Great Plains, from Nebraska all the way to Texas. It also grows in the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas. Sometimes, you might see it in the southwestern U.S., Illinois, and Ohio. In these places, it was likely brought there by people.
Where Does it Grow?
The Penstemon cobaea plant likes to grow in specific places. You can find it on hillsides and in areas with gravel. It also thrives on rocky outcrops. Sometimes, it grows in gypsum soils or old, eroded pastures.
What Does it Look Like?
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This plant usually grows to be about 30 centimeters (1 foot) tall. Some can even reach 60 centimeters (2 feet) tall! Its flowers are quite unique. They have five parts, called lobes. Two large lobes are on top, and three smaller ones are on the bottom.
Inside the flowers, there is a special structure. It looks a bit like a ribcage. The flowers can be white or pink. They often have pretty magenta lines. The leaves of the plant are wide. They are usually about 3.8 to 15 centimeters (1.5 to 6 inches) long. They can be from 0.6 to 5 centimeters (0.5 to 2 inches) wide.
How to Grow Your Own!
If you want to grow Penstemon cobaea, here's what you need to know. After the flowers bloom, they turn into brown and black capsules. These capsules hold the seeds.
Once you plant the seeds, it takes some time for them to grow. You will usually see flowers appear after about two years. When gardening, it's good to leave space between plants. Try to keep them about 40 to 50 centimeters (16 to 20 inches) apart. This plant often needs lime added to the soil to help it grow well.
