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Definition of penstemon

penstemon

/ˈpɛnstɪmən/
pen · ste · mon
Plural:penstemons
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penstemon Lexical Profile

penstemon Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of a large genus of North American and East Asian herbaceous plants or shrubs in the plantain family, characterized by opposite leaves and showy, two-lipped tubular flowers.

Example

"The gardener planted a vibrant border of purple penstemons to attract hummingbirds and bees during the dry summer months."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for penstemon

• Nearby Words

penobscot
pensacola
pensionability
penstemon
pentas
pentecostal
peony

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1748 by botanist John Mitchell from the Greek words 'pente' (five) and 'stēmōn' (stamen), referring to the flower's prominent fifth, sterile stamen. The slightly irregular spelling 'Penstemon' was conserved over later attempts to correct it to 'Pentstemon'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Penstemon. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/penstemon
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