This spring I collected ideas for pollinator-friendly perennials that I could use to fill bare spots in my flowerbeds. Penstemon (beardtongue) kept popping up on that list.
A cultivar called ‘Midnight Masquerade’ later caught my eye at the garden center. The plants have fetching dark-purple stems and foliage topped with pretty lavender-pink flowers in late spring and early summer.
In May I tucked a plant into one of my more “wild” daylily beds that also has some globe thistle, liatris and other prairie plants growing in it. Once it started blooming, ‘Midnight Masquerade’ instantly became a hit with bumblebees.
They crawled right inside the flowers to get the nectar, so eventually all I could see was their little bumblebee bums sticking out!
‘Midnight Masquerade’ is a drought-tolerant perennial that grows 36 to 40 inches tall. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. In addition to being a bumblebee magnet, it also attracts hummingbirds.
I love that the stems are sturdy, and don’t need any staking.
If this pretty plant proves it can survive winter in southern Wisconsin, I would definitely consider purchasing a second one next spring!