Penstemon is your go-to-plant if you’re looking for colorful spring-blooming flowers and a low-water usage desert plant. As a bonus, hummingbirds love this perennial flower so it is a must have plant if you want to attract hummingbirds.
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Penstemon, often known as beardtongue, are loved for their tubular, nectar-rich flowers that attract hummingbirds, bees, butterflies. They are also loved by nectar-feeding birds such as Verdins and Orioles. The tubular flowers with yellow hairs on their lower lip is what inspires the common “beard” name to the flower.
Why We Love Penstemon
There are so many reasons to love this pretty perennial.
- The tubular flowers attract pollinators like hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.
- Once established, they require minimal care.
- They are drought tolerant, so they are ideal for water-wise gardens.
- Grow in borders, containers or rock gardens.
- Pretty blooms from late spring through summer.
Where Can Penstemon Grow?
This perennial plant is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. This means it can withstand a wide range of temperatures, from the chilly northern states to the warmer southern regions.
When to Plant Penstemon
The best time to plant is in the early spring or fall. Spring planting allows the plants to establish their roots before the heat of summer sets in, while fall planting gives them time to settle in before winter.
If you’re planting from seed, late fall is ideal because the seeds can undergo natural cold stratification over the winter, leading to better germination rates in the spring.
How to Plant Penstemon
Height can vary depending on the species, generally ranging from 1 to 3 feet tall. When planting, space them about 1 to 2 feet apart. This allows for good air circulation, which helps prevent disease and gives the plants room to grow and spread.
- It does well in the desert soil. You just want well-draining soil. If necessary, amend it with compost or sand.
- Make a hole twice the width of the plant’s root ball and just as deep.
- Place the plant in the hole, making sure the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface.
- Fill the hole with soil, firm it down gently, and water thoroughly.
- Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plant to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
How to Care for Penstemon
- Water regularly, especially during dry periods. Once established, the plant is drought-tolerant. Young plants need consistent moisture to establish strong roots.
- It doesn’t require much fertilization. A light application of a balanced fertilizer in the spring is usually sufficient.
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms. In late fall, cut back the plants to about 6 inches to tidy them up for winter.
- It will multiply and will need to be divided.
For Warmer Areas choose from the following varieties:
Penstemon barbatus
Also called Golden-Beardtongue. This variety has bright red flowers, hardy in zones 4-9.
Penstemon strictus
Often referred to as Rocky Mountain Penstemon. This variety has deep blue to purple flowers and is hardy in zones 4-9.
Penstemon heterophyllus
Foothill Penstemon, has brilliant blue flowers and is hardy in zones 7-10.
Penstemon eatonii
Firecracker Penstemon is another popular variety in Arizona. This plant is hardy in zones 5-10 and gets it’s name from the firecracker red flowers. It is native to the western United States, particularly in states like Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California.
Penstemon parryi
Parry’s Penstemon or Desert Penstemon is a popular variety in Arizona. This one is native to the southwest, so you will have no problems finding it at the local nursery or growing these here in Arizona. The plant is hardy in gardening zones 7-10.
For Colder Areas choose from the following varieties:
Penstemon digitalis
Foxglove Beardtongue, has white to pale pink flowers, and is hardy in zones 3-8.
Penstemon grandiflorus
Large-Flowered Beardtongue, has lavender to pink flowers, and is hardy in zones 3-8.
When do Penstemon’s bloom in Arizona?
Penstemon blooms from February through April in Phoenix. At maturity the plant can reach 24-36” inches height and 15” wide.
Where to See the Most Penstemons?
The Arboretum at Flagstaff has one of the largest collections of Penstemon species in North America. They host a Festival each summer for members.