Penstemon belongs to a large genus of herbaceous perennials native to North and Central America from Alaska to Guatemala and coast to coast. In the Southwest desert, Penstemon grows natively between 4,500 and 6,000 feet. There are more than 275 different species of this plant. The common name for Penstemon is “beard tongue”. The plants form dense rosettes of long, green foliage that hug the ground and blend into the landscape. For most of the year, the plant goes unnoticed until the late winter or early spring when it produces a tall flower spike that emerges in colors of violet, pink, magenta or red, depending
on the species.
The height and spread of the flowers also differs among species. The flowers are pollinated by bees, wasps, moths, butterflies, and hummingbirds. This plant prefers full sun, but some species can take partial shade conditions. Provide monthly irrigation, well-draining, sandy or gravelly soil, and avoid overwatering it. In the low desert, this plant may rot out during summer. Penstemon is easily propagated by seeds or cuttings. After a few years, they need to be thinned out and pruned heavily in winter. When new volunteers emerge in early spring, they tend to outgrow and take over older plants.
These plants are hardy to fifteen to twenty degrees or lower. Use penstemon in rock gardens with other perennials, in borders, along a garden path, in an entry courtyard, around ponds and other water features, in street medians or as a colorful display for spring and early summer color.