Penstemons are easy to care for and beautiful and water-wise. A North American native; these living jewels thrive in the arid west tolerating poor soil as long as it drains well. Amending our heavy clay soil with Gold Rush is an easy fix. Consider adding this showy perennial to your garden this summer.
Penstemons are the perfect size plant for a bed or a border at about 30″ x 30″. The flowers look a bit like foxglove, tubular in shape, running the length of the stem. The colors are vibrant, some with white throats. Color options range from pale pink to red, purple and lavender and from soft pastels to near true-blues. We even have California native varieties.
Care is easy. If you tend to neglect to fertilize and keep your watering on the dry side, penstemons will be a welcome garden addition. Removal of spent flower stems ensures continuous bloom from early summer through fall. Most Penstemons are evergreen and prefer full sun.
A fun fact from the American Horticulture Society: “Beautiful and clever, penstemon can regulate nectar flow on demand, nectar flow increases when regularly visited by hummingbirds.”
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