Pine leaved Penstemons are great, long lived evergreen perennials in our climate. They decorate rock gardens and rock walls in the most common color which is orange. This is a striking departure. Lemon yellow tubular flowers appear in late May and continue to July. The foliage is what you might expect small needle like leaves cover winding stems. You may remove the spent flowers from the first round, give it a soak and you might get more flowers. Either way you have saved yourself a chore in the future. Full sun to the very lightest shade (at the expense of blooming). Rich, well amended soil and regular summer water through its bloom cycle- then you may back off. Evergreen small trailing shrublet. To 6″ x 12″ wide and 9″ tall in bloom. The flowers on this species will always point in the same direction which is charming. Moderate deer resistance. Combine with Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Electric Blue’ and Erigeron x ‘Wayne Roderick’ for similar cultural requirements and simultaneous bloom time. Excellent in troughs, permanent planters. This species is native to the mountains of New Mexico. Sunny yellow flowers.
Genus: Penstemon
Penstemon pinifolius ‘Nearly Red’
A really cool color switch for this normally bright orange species. The dusty red tubular flowers rise taller on this cultivar than others to 18″ and it forms a less dense clump of pine leaved low evergreen foliage. Found and named by David Salman of High Country Gardens we’ve found this to be an excellent performer in our climate. Full sun and enriched, well drained soil with light consistent summer water. The flower appear for weeks from May to July. Very forgiving perennial that thrives in rock gardens or dry slopes. Long lived. Hummingbirds. Moderate deer resistance
Penstemon pinifolius
Pine leaved Penstemon is a native of the southern Rocky Mountains and its a long lived, easy to grow evergreen perennial for rock gardens, hot aspects and slopes. Well drained soil in full sun to very light shade in rich to average soil. Light but consistent summer moisture increases vigor which in turn increases the amount of flowers. Incredibly heavy blooming wildflower with masses of 7″ spikes holding tubular hot orange flowers. Very showy and irresistible to Hummingbirds. Blooms May to July. Cut back spent flowers to tidy. Low mat forming plant with grass green pine like foliage. Easy to grow perennial with a wonderful wildflower display. Very adapted to our climate. Photo credit: Bob Hyland. Hyland Garden Design.
Penstemon pinifolius ‘Melon’
Excellent and very heavy blooming color form of Pine leaved Penstemon. Forming a spreading evergreen mat of bright green needle like foliage it erupts in a multitude of 8″ spikes with soft melon orange tubular flowers suspended on the wiry stems. Blooms begin in May and extend to July. Full sun and well drained sites in average to enriched soils. In clay soils add a handful of pumice to the planting hole. Full sun and light but consistent summer moisture. A wonderful flower color with a fantastic floral display on this easy to grow long lived perennial. Spreads eventually to about 18″ wide (foliage is low- goes no higher than 4″). Excellent hummingbird plant. Native to the southern Rocky mountains- it loves our climate as well.
Penstemon ‘Enor’
Stellar border Penstemon with several qualities that rises above the rest. To 30″ tall forming multiple spikes of deep purple tubular flowers. The flowers appear continuously if spent spikes are removed. Glossy deep green foliage is disease resistant, and for a border type it is exceptionally hardy to cold. Forms a bloomy, long lived perennial for flower borders or hillsides or meadows in full sun to light shade. Light, regular summer water in rich, well drained soil. Cut back hard in early spring. Blooms continuously until frost and beyond. Remove spent flowers and water to repeat the flower performance over and over. Not a bad cut flower. A very reliable perennial in our climate.
Penstemon kunthii
One of our very favorite of all perennials at Xera. This extraordinary Penstemon is actually native to south central Mexico, but glory be its actually cold hardy here. Smaller, profuse tubular intense red flowers line strong stems. This bushy plant expands with the season and there will be scores of bloom spikes. To 2′ x 2′ but it can and has exceeded that. This EVERBLOOMING perennial is incredibly adaptable as well as an almost over performer. The flowers are small enough that they create a haze of red rather than a wall of red and it finds color compatibility with purples, and oranges. Full sun in rich to average soil that is never boggy. Slight improvement to the soil will result in a cloud of flowers for months. Irresistible to hummingbirds and pollinators in general. Bloom which is constant can even extend well into winter shrugging off light frosts. Considering its native origin in Oaxaca its fantastic that it thrives to perfection in our climate. So far its happily weathered temperatures down to 5ºF. This is a outstanding perennial with a sophisticated flower color and a massive display of bloom for months. Cut back by 2/3 in early spring. It will resume growing almost immediately. We obtained this plant from our friend David Mason and we are forever in his debt. Glossy thin foliage is handsome.
Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Electric Blue’
An easy to cultivate blue flowered Penstemon that is an exhilarating color and is incredibly showy for the 4-6 weeks it remains in bloom. Flowers begin in May and slack off with really hot weather. A semi-woody perennial native to the baking hot Sierra Nevada foothills of California. Full sun and fast draining soil with light summer water. Excellent performance in blazing hot hell strips. To 14″ tall and as wide. Cut back hard in early spring. Mulch annually with compost. Provide good air circulation.Seems to thrive and live longer in average soil, and slope is a plus. I’ve had this west coast native Penstemon persist in my garden for 8 solid years. Very good. Nice cut flower. And if you give it a drink after cutting it back it may reward you with another show. Handles reflected heat very well.
Penstemon x ‘Schooley’s Coral’
Immensely showy and easy to grow Penstemon with many 2′ spikes lined in bright coral tubular flowers. Blooms May to July from a basal rosette of deep green foliage. Full sun and well drained, enriched soil. Add a layer of compost yearly to spur vigor. Good air circulation. Remove spent flowers and often more will appear. Light consistent summer water.