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Penstemon: Tubular Joy in the Garden -- By Cindy Bellinger
 What better rhythm in a garden than the coming and going of penstemons. In her book
Passionate Gardening author Lauren Springer likens the succession of flowering penstemons to a symphony of color. By choosing specimens and planting wisely you can achieve an array of continual color through several seasons. Some species reach heights of 28-inches; most average 16-inches and others prefer ground level at 4-inches.
Penstemons are also called "beardtongues" because of a fifth enlarged stamen within the tubular flower. Some say it resembles a tongue. There are nearly 300 species of penstemons. Though most are suited to the West and Great Plains, they can also be grown in higher rainfall regions if special treatment is applied.
Planting and Cultural Considerations
Because many
Penstemon are adapted to grow in harsh Western habitats, it is important to keep a few cultural considerations in mind when bringing them into your garden.
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 Plant only in well-drained soils.
- Avoid overly enriched soils; too much compost can shorten life spans.
- Plant high, leaving the top of the root ball just above the surrounding soil.
- Keep plants from crowding one another.
- Avoid bark, grass clippings or compost mulches; water retentive mulch materials cause disease, especially in wet, cold weather. Leave them un-mulched or use gravel.
- Deadheading (removal of spent flower spikes) lengthens a plant's bloom production for that season.
Penstemons in More Humid Climates
 The key factor in growing Penstemons is to have well-drained soil. Create a raised bed of sand. They don't like rich loam or clay. If possible plant them on a sunny slope where they can dry out quickly. Mulch with gravel or chicken grit.
Penstemons that are native to the Midwestern, Eastern and Southeastern states are listed in "Growing Penstemons: Species, Cultivars, and Hybrids," a publication of the
American Penstemon Society compiled by Dale Lindgren and Ellen Wilde (Ellen lives in Santa Fe). It is a wonderful reference book about everything a 'Penstemaniac' needs to know.
Penstemon tubaeflorus is a good choice for the more humid states as it occurs as a native plant in states ranging from Connecticut to Florida to Illinois. Penstemons that do well in most parts of the United States include
P. strictus, p. pinifolius, and
P. barbatus "Elfin Pink." You may need to experiment a bit to find a variety that works for you. Try planting in several locations and see where they do best.
New to Penstemons?
If you've never grown penstemons and live within zones 5-9, do give our
Penstemon Sampler a try. The starter kit comes with six favorites:
Penstemon Hints
- Allow to Re-seed Penstemon will sometimes live for only 2 or 3 years. To keep them going, allow some of the plants to set seed, so don't deadhead them, which means cutting off the spent flowers. The volunteer seedlings will be more vigorous and longer lived than the original parent plant.
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 Fertilize Sparingly Because penstemon prefer lean conditions, it's necessary to fertilize once each year. In the fall apply a light application of an organic or natural fertilizer.
Yum Yum Mix is an excellent fertilizer for Penstemon and other native plants. It has a high trace mineral and phosphorus content while being low in nitrogen.
- Loosen the soil and add organic nutrients at planting time. Mix a handful of Yum Yum Mix into the soil of the planting hole. Then water the Beardtongue transplants with Superthrive and Liquid Seaweed (Root Stimulator Combination Pack) to get them off to a good start. (Nursery grown plants benefit from extra nutrition when making the move from cultivation into the wild.)
Penstemons for Higher Elevations
If you live at around 7,500 feet, the following penstemons do well at that altitude.
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 Penstemon virens Blue Mist Beardtongue will thrill all who grow it with its floriferous spikes of lavender-blue flowers that bloom in late spring and early summer. A small growing, compact plant it is well suited to exposed windy spots. A good re-seeder when happy in its environment. Zones 4-9.
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Penstemon linarioides v. coloradensis Colorado Narrowleaf Beardtongue is a superb Colorado native with thin, blue evergreen leaves and clouds of lavender-blue flowers in late spring. Zones 4-9.
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Penstemon procumbens
'Claude Barr' Mat Penstemon is vigorous and ground-hugging with rounded, glossy, dark green foliage and small, deep blue, trumpet-shaped flowers. Excellent in rock gardens. True to its mountain origins, this plant is not recommended for the hot, dry southwestern U.S. Zones 4-8.
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 Penstemon pinifolius and cultivars Pineleaf Beardtongue is a fabulous species from the mountains of New Mexico. It’s numerous cultivars are long lived and bloom in shades of orange, scarlet and yellow. Looks good when out of bloom because of its evergreen needle like foliage. Zones 4-9.
Lauren Springer says fiery red penstemons add exclamation points to the garden. But all of the penstemons bring a true vibrancy to any landscape. The added bonus is butterflies, bees and humming birds can't get enough of the penstemons.
David's Helpful Hints: Spring Garden Maintenance
In many areas, it's already time to think about spring maintenance such as pruning, deterring gophers and fertilizing.
In areas of the garden where you’ve planted lots of spring blooming bulbs get going right away so you’re not trampling the new bulb shoots as you’re working
 Most perennials and ornamental grasses need cutting back and a few shrubs may need a little pruning. Pruning of deciduous shrubs is generally done during dormant periods. The exception are spring flowering shrubs that bloom on old wood. These include favorites such as Lilacs, Viburnum, Forsythia, Philadelphus and Quinc.
Summer blooming shrubs should have their branches cut back by about one third to two-third their height. Do this every two to three years depending on your climate. Prune less frequently and remove less wood in areas with harsher climates. Russian Sage should be cut back by about two-thirds each spring
 Cut back
Ornamental grasses to about six inches above ground level or (lower for smaller species). Then scratch out the center of the clump to remove dead stubble. Cut back most perennials to about six inches or to just above the new growth coming from the crown of the plant. Lavender, woody Salvia, Rosemary and other woody perennials should be pruned to remove winter killed wood only after you see the first signs of new growth beginning to push from the main stems. All this pruning and trimming is made easy with a great pair of Felco pruning shears.
If you have gophers, this is the time to apply
Gopher-Med. Remember to plant some Daffodils next fall as they help repel gophers, and are also very pretty. If you did not fertilize last fall, apply a light top dressing of
Yum Yum Mix in your perennial borders. Scratch in slightly with a garden fork or trowel. Lastly, make sure you have a nice layer of mulch in your beds. Then, get ready to enjoy a season of glorious blooms.
Plant Combination
For those warm areas in your yard these flowering plants brighten garden borders. Both like well-drained soil and lots of sun.
Salvia jurisicii 'Blue' European Cutleaf Sage is a noteworthy sage with beautiful feathery foliage and a profusion of plume-like flower spikes. The spikes are made up of unusual upside-down, blue flowers in late spring. It's a superb addition to the hot, dry perennial border. Native to Eastern Europe, this salvia is easily grown in any well-drained soil. In dry summer climates, irrigate occasionally; otherwise, it can go dormant like an Oriental Poppy. But not to worry if it goes to “sleep”; it will re-emerge without fail next spring. Zones 4-8.
Aethionema schistosum Fragrant Persian Stonecress displays hundreds of soft pink flower clusters smother this plant in early spring; get close and enjoy its intensely sweet fragrance. The tiny leaves are evergreen, and are a distinctive powder blue. When it's finished blooming, cut back the old flowering stems to just above the new cluster of foliage at the base of the plant. Plant in a lean, fast-draining soil, where it will spread by reseeding. Zones 4-8.
Join Our 2007 Spring Gardening Series 2007 -- March 17, 24, and 31
- March 17 -- Xeric Perennials and New Introductions from HCG
Presented by David Salman, President and Chief Horticulturalist for Santa Fe Greenhouses & High Country Gardens
- March 24 -- Trees and Shrubs for the Urban Garden
Presented by Kathy Ellis, Manager, High Country Gardens Albuquerque
- March 31 --Creative Containers for the Albuquerque Garden
Presented by Bob Ross, SFGH Senior Container Garden Specialist; Designer/Radio Show Host
Workshops are held on Saturday and start at 2pm and are held on the grounds of High Country Gardens retail store 6400 San Mateo, NE, Albuquerque, NM. For more information, please call (505) 856-7641 or visit us on the web at /events/
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...all of the penstemons bring a true vibrancy to any landscape. The added bonus is butterflies, bees and hummingbirds
