penstemon

noun

variants or less commonly
: any of a genus (Penstemon) of perennial, chiefly North American herbs or low shrubs of the plantain family typically with spikes of showy, two-lipped, tubular flowers with two lobes on the upper lip and three lobes on the lower lip : beardtongue
In the pastel planting, pink penstemons with upright spikes of tubular flowers contrast with such mounding plants as pinksLynn Ocone

Examples of penstemon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Plant –Sow cool-season natives like desert marigold and penstemon, which appreciate lower temperatures for germination. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 24 Sep. 2024 The Sutherland Trail offers the best assortment of flowers with poppies, cream cups, lupines, penstemon and desert chicory. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2024 Only one type of plant, the white-margined penstemon, is being reviewed. Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2024 In Brian Bautista’s yard, upright showy penstemon, aromatic hummingbird sage, hardy toyon trees, and two types of milkweed — dramatic plants requiring little water — attract birds, butterflies and bees and flourish amid the Bermuda grass lawns. Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2023 See all Example Sentences for penstemon 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'penstemon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from penta- + Greek stēmōn warp, thread — more at stamen

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of penstemon was in 1760

Dictionary Entries Near penstemon

Cite this Entry

“Penstemon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penstemon. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on penstemon

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!