Penstemon aka Beard Tongues are terrific additions to your xeric
garden with both native and non-native varieties. The flowers are plentiful,
tubular and brilliant colors which attract bees and hummingbirds. There are over
250 types with low growing mat penstemon, shorter ones 8” – 10” tall, and many which
grow up to two feet tall. The CSU partnership Plant Select program includes
quite a number of penstemon tested to do well in Colorado. Here are some that
are fun to scout out in the wild or try growing in our higher elevation area.
The Rocky Mountain Penstemon (Penstemon Strictus) is a
native to the Southwest. It is often found in openings of ponderosa pine and
spruce-aspen forest at elevations of 7,000-10,000’. It can grow on rocky,
infertile, disturbed soils or in home gardens.
It grows 18” by 18” or taller with lots of midnight blue flowers and narrow,
glossy green leaves.
Bluemist Penstemon (P.
virens) is low growing and can spread to carpet gravelly slopes. It has light
blue flowers and dark green leaves.
Scarlet Bugler (P. barbatus) and Firecracker Penstemon (P.
eatonii) can grow up to 3’ with brilliant red flowers along the stalks. They
are hummingbird magnets!
In the higher altitude woods, you may spot Whipple Penstemon
(P. whippleanus) with its intensely dark purple flowers and in dry open areas you
may see the native Grand Mesa Penstemon (P. mensarum) with cobalt blue flowers
in spring.
Blue Buckle Penstemon (P. virgatus) is shorter and long
blooming with clusters of blue to blue-purple flowers. It has wide, glossy,
dark green basal leaves while the stems have very narrow leaves. It is native
to a small area in northern New Mexico and northern Arizona, grows up to 9000’,
in xeric conditions, cold winters, and poor soils.
Husker Red Penstemon (P. digitalis Husker Red) grows in a thick
mound of reddish foliage with white flowers on erect stalks. It grows up to
8000’, blooms in summer, and may grow 18” wide and 24” tall. In autumn and
winter, song birds enjoy its seed.
Pineleaf Penstemon (P. pinifolius) has either fire engine
red flowers or light yellow flowers. It grows up to 10” tall with narrow leaves
resembling pine leaves. It is native to the Southwest.
If you are
excited to try Plant Select, selections include:
Prairie Jewel (P. grandiflorus ‘P010S’) with large flowers
from white to rose to deep violet. The leaves are silvery. It is evergreen and long-lived
in well drained locations.
Silverton bluemat penstemon (P. linarioides v. coloradoensis)
has lavender blue flowers with silvery leaves and reseeds to spread.
Red Rocks penstemon (P. x Mexicali ‘P008S’) with rosy flowers
and Pikes Peak Purple (P. x Mexicali ‘P007S’) with mounding dark green leaves
and violet purple flowers are hybrids. Bridges Penstemon (P. rostriflorus) with
scarlet flowers is native to the Southwest. These three like a somewhat lower
elevation like zone 4b or 5.
Whatever you
plant, or discover in the woods, look closely at the amazing flower patterns
and striping on the petals plus watch for bees and hummingbirds sharing the
flowers with you!
Photo credits: Eastern Colorado Wildflowers.com and Dave’s Gardens.com and Irene Shonle.
