We proudly research, grow, and write about our plants by hand. Descriptions are based on our experience as well as information gathered from reputable sources: books, periodicals, and select websites. Should you have questions beyond what is listed please email or call.

Red flowers on green stems of Penstemon barbatus ssp. coccineus &

Red flowers of Penstemon barbatus ssp. coccineus &

Penstemon barbatus ssp. coccineus 'Jingle Bells' | bearded penstemon

Regular price: $8.99
Regular price
Sale price: $8.99

Shipping calculated at checkout.

Grown from seed in living soil without the use of pesticides, chemicals, or carbon fuels.

ships spring 2026

Bearded penstemon (Penstemon barbatus ssp. coccineus) is a tall penstemon with bright red tubular flowers that hummingbirds adore. It is long-lived (for a penstemon) and may persist in the well-drained garden for up to five years. This southwest native is very easy to grow, but too much wet will kill it. It is happiest in full sun in a location with excellent drainage.

'Jingle Bells' has extra bright red blooms. Will self-seed when happy.

Northeast gardeners: This plant is listed as hardy down to zone 4 in its native range (the Southwest). I have yet to attempt to overwinter it outdoors (our young plants are in the ground in our high tunnel where they are protected from winter wet). If anyone has experience overwintering this plant in the Northeast, please share. Your knowledge would be much appreciated.

Zones: 4 to 9
Family: Plantaginaceae
Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Height: 18 to 36 in.
Spread: 12 to 24 in.
Exposure: Full Sun
Conditions: Dry, Well-drained, Average
Bloom Time: May to June
Native Range: cultivar. Species is native to southwestern United States and northern Mexico
Common Names: common beardtongue, bearded penstemon, beardlip penstemon, firecracker penstemon, scarlet bugler, golden-beard penstemon, red penstemon

syn. Chelone barbatus, Penstemon coccineus

J7c

4" pot

Special Characteristics

Hummingbird favorite
Pollinator favorite
Deer-resistant
Drought resistant

image credits

Jelitto

Ordering information

Preorders

You may place your order anytime to reserve plants for fall 2026 shipping. If you place multiple orders, we will combine plants into one box (or as many as needed) and any extra shipping charges will be refunded.

We will resume shipping as soon as temperatures cool in our location and yours. This can range from the beginning of September for northern locations to the end of October for hot locations (Texas).

We will check in with you a week before shipping to make sure you receive your plants at a time that is convenient for you.

Shipping

Live plants ship in spring and fall only. Plants may ship dormant, depending on variety and season. Shipping costs are most reasonable when bundling like size plants.

4-inch: 1-6 plants ship for $15.00 / 7-13 plants ship for $18.00 / 14-30 plants ship for $40.00
1-gal: 1-2 plants ship for $18.00 / 3-4 plants ship for $25.00 / 5-6 plants ship for $40.00
trees & shrubs: $27.00-$40.00 each, height dependent
seeds: $6.75 or free with orders over $15.00

We regret that we cannot ship internationally or to the following states: AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, or WA.

Nursery pick up

We will email you to schedule a day and time to collect your plants when they are ready in spring. Generally, plants can be collected from the nursery Monday through Sunday from 10am-4pm in Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Plant Sizes

We most commonly use the following pot sizes for perennials:

4-inch pot: 3.5" H x 3.5" W x 3.5" D
2-quart pot: 6" H x 5.25" W x 5.25" D
1-gallon pot: 6.87" H x 8" Dia (this is a true one gallon pot, not the smaller 'trade' one gallon pot used by many nurseries)

Check out our illustrated pot size guide here.

Representative trees & shrubs are photographed in their pots and posted on each plant page.

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of what we do at The Old Dairy. We grow all of our plants outdoors without the use of chemicals, fertilizers, carbon fuels, or peat.

Many of our perennials are grown in the ground and dug upon order (this is especially true for larger sizes). This practice allows us to grow stronger, healthier plants using native soil, and ultimately reduces our impact on the environment.

Our open-pollinated seeds are collected from plants in our mother beds, which have never been treated with chemicals or sprays of any kind.

Read all about our sustainable practices here.