Hairy beardtongue, Penstemon hirsutus
 
A short, versatile, very cute plant for borders, rock gardens and even shadier spots. 
The tubular lavender flowers bloom in May, June, and July, transitioning the garden from spring to summer.

Ecology:
Hairy beardtongue attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and songbirds.
It is the larval host plant for the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly and some moth species, and supports a pollen specialist bee.
Since not all bees fit the narrow tubular flowers, some chew holes in the base of the flowers to 'steal' their nectar without providing pollination services in return. The last picture shows the nectar thief, a mason bee, in action.
 
Growing conditions:
In the wild, hairy beardtongue grows at forest edges, prairies, alvars and disturbed sites. The wide range of natural habitats, some of which are among the harshest environments, has made the plant very adaptable and easy to grow. It thrives in any but wet soil, even coarse rock, in full sun to part shade. Alvar plants grow on bedrock with almost no soil, making them ideal for container gardening on balconies and for shallow beds on parking lots, as in the picture.