Photography courtesy of Mountain States Wholesale Nursery

Penstemon Baccharifolius Del Rio™
Description:
Small evergreen shrub that grows to 2 feet tall and up to 3 feet wide. Produces scarlet flowers on spikes that reach 1 foot in length. Blooms cover the plant from early summer to fall.
Best traits:
Attracts hummingbirds; drought-tolerant once established; hardy to 5°.
Growing tips:
Does best in full sun or partial shade and requires good drainage. In midsummer remove spent flower stalks. Prune in late winter after flowering. Protect from rabbits the first year or two with chicken wire.
In the garden:
Ideal for small spaces such as patios, narrow entryways and planters.





Parry’s Penstemon
(Penstemon parryi)
Description:
This spring-flowering perennial grows to 2 feet wide. From as early as February and often through April, it produces light- to dark-pink flowers on stalks that reach up to 4 feet high.
Best traits:
Fast growing; attracts hummingbirds; hardy to 15°; although short-lived it reseeds readily.
Growing tips:
Plant in full sun to partial shade. For maximum flower production, provide supplemental watering fall through spring. Protect from rabbits with chicken wire. Allow flower spikes to mature; then cut stalks and scatter seed.
In the garden:
Striking in the landscape when massed.




Coral Penstemon
(Penstemon superbus)
Description:
This short-lived perennial grows to 2 feet wide and produces coral blooms on stalks that may reach 6 feet high. Can flower from February to as late as June.
Best traits:
Show-stopping flowers; attracts hummingbirds; fast growing; heat-tolerant; hardy to 5°.
Growing tips:
Plant in fall. Grows well in full sun to filtered shade in well-draining soil. Remove dried flower stems after seeds ripen. Collect and scatter seed in September. Protect from rabbits with chicken wire.
In the garden:
A standout growing beside walls or among boulders; good choice for xeriscape gardens.




Palmer’s Penstemon
(Penstemon palmeri)
Description:
Native to the southwest’s higher elevations (3,500-6,500 feet), this perennial grows to 1 foot high and wide. Produces 4- to 6-foot-tall spikes. Large light-pink flowers appear March through September.
Best traits:
Striking fragrant flowers; fast growing; attracts hummingbirds, bees and butterflies; hardy to –30°; drought-tolerant; reseeds readily.
Growing tips:
If grown in the low desert, place in full to partial shade; in high elevations plant in full sun. Requires good drainage.
In the garden:
One of the largest and showiest of the penstemons, this variety is striking in any landscape.




Firecracker Penstemon
(Penstemon eatoni)
Description:
This low-growing evergreen shrub grows to 3 feet high and 4 feet wide. Clusters of bright-red flowers form on tall stalks in February and continue blooming into April or May.
Best traits:
Attracts hummingbirds; flowers provide color when most plants are dormant; fast growing; hardy to –10°; drought-tolerant.
Growing tips:
Plant in full sun where drainage is good. Provide protection from hungry rabbits. In summer, cut seed stalks. To encourage new plants, collect seed and scatter.
In the garden:
A good choice for xeriscape and wildflower gardens.