All Star Penstemon Collection

Our ‘All Star Penstemon Collection’ is a showcase of colors and forms that delivers more flowers every year. Enjoy warm red, pale pink, magenta, and inky purple flowers blooming early spring to early summer, followed by a lovely tapestry of evergreen foliage textures to complement later-blooming perennials. Penstemon, or Beardtongue, are easy-to-grow native perennials that will spread steadily, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, but resisting hungry deer. Plant 10” tall Penstemon pinifolius with vivid scarlet flowers in front, and willowy 48-60” tall Penstemon palmeri with pale pink fragrant flowers in back. A must-have collection for waterwise gardens! Collection of 15 plants.

Zones	5 - 9
Advantages	Easy To Grow Attract Butterflies Attract Hummingbirds Attract Birds Bee Friendly Native Multiplies / Naturalizes
Light Requirements	Full Sun
Annual Rainfall	10 to 20" 20 to 30"
Mature Height	Varies: Richfield: 24-36" tall palmeri: 4-5' tall Compactum: 10" tall Coconino County: 30-36" tall strictus: 24-30" tall
Mature Spread	Varies: Richfield: 15" wide palmeri: 24" wide Compactum: 12" wide Coconino County: 18" wide strictus: 36" wide
Bloom Time	Mid spring to summer
Shipping	No longer available this season. Learn More…
Size	Collection of 15
SKU	HC017474

USDA Hardiness Planting Zones

To determine if a plant is sufficiently cold hardy, the USDA created numbered zones indicating winter low temperatures; the lower the zone number the colder the winter.

If the coldest winter temperature expected in your area is -15°F (zone 5) then any plants rated zones 3-5 will survive the winter temperatures in your area.
If you live in very warm winter areas (zones 9-11) plants with zones 3-4 ratings are not recommended. The lack of freezing winter temperatures do not provide a time for winter dormancy (rest).

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HC017474

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The ‘All Star Penstemon Collection’ is an all-star lineup of Penstemon, which are native to the American west and some of our bestselling plants for waterwise gardens! Penstemon eatonii Richfield (Richfield Strain Firecracker Beardtongue) has brilliant red flowers that bloom from early-to-mid spring, and is noted for exceptional hardiness and vigor. Penstemon strictus (Rocky Mountain Beardtongue), blooms with blue-violet flowers from mid-to-late spring, and is known for being exceptionally easy to grow. Penstemon pseudospectabilis Coconino County (Coconino County Desert Beardtongue) has prolific, vigorous magenta flowers blooming in late spring, and is notable for being introduced by David Salman of High Country Gardens. Penstemon pinifolius 'Compactum’ (Compact Pineleaf Beardtongue), the smallest in the collection, has bright red flowers late spring to early summer. Penstemon palmeri (Pink wild Snapdragon) blooms with very pale pink flowers in early summer on exceptionally tall flower spikes, and is one of the few fragrant Penstemon varieties. Mounding evergreen foliage is an excellent texture in the garden. This collection is the perfect grouping to fill in your garden and attract pollinators while summer and fall blooming perennials are waking up. Plant in well-drained soil with full sun. Good choice for rockgardens, alpine plantings, or difficult, hard-to-reach gardens. Mature plants range from 10-60” tall x 12-36” wide.

This Collection includes 15 plants – 3 of each of the following:

· Penstemon eatonii Richfield

· Penstemon palmeri

· Penstemon pinifolius 'Compactum’

· Penstemon pseudospectabilis Coconino County

· Penstemon strictus

More Information
SKU	HC017474
Item Package Size	Collection of 15
Common Name	All Star Penstemon Collection
Botanical Name	Penstemon Collection
Zones	5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Light Requirements	Full Sun
Flower Color	Pink, Red, Blue, Purple
Mature Height	Varies: Richfield: 24-36" tall palmeri: 4-5' tall Compactum: 10" tall Coconino County: 30-36" tall strictus: 24-30" tall
Mature Spread	Varies: Richfield: 15" wide palmeri: 24" wide Compactum: 12" wide Coconino County: 18" wide strictus: 36" wide
Bloom Time	Mid spring to summer
Ships As	Planting Kit
Soil Type	Sandy Soil, Average Soil
Soil Moisture	Drought Resistant / Waterwise
Amount Of Rain	10 to 20", 20 to 30"
Advantages	Easy To Grow, Attract Butterflies, Attract Hummingbirds, Attract Birds, Bee Friendly, Native, Multiplies / Naturalizes
Special Groups	High Country Gardens Exclusive, High Country Gardens Introduction
Ideal Region	West, Southwest, Pacific Northwest, Coastal California
Planting Time	Spring / Summer
Neonicotinoid Free	Yes - Learn More
Item Unit Of Measure	Plant
Ships To Canada	No

Planting Guides

Tips for growing Penstemon (Beardtongue)

Penstemon are generally evergreen and have beautiful flowers that are very attractive to hummingbirds. Most varieties are rabbit resistant.

They need “elbow room,” maximum sun, heat and don’t like to be crowded by other plants.
Plant only in well-drained soils; clay soils and Penstemon are incompatible.
Avoid overly enriched soils; too much compost and fertilizer will shorten their lifespan.
They establish quickly and the amount and frequency of watering needs to be reduced after about 8 to 10 weeks to create dry conditions.
When using drip irrigation, be sure to put the emitter off to the side of the plant, not right on top of the root ball to avoid overwatering the plant.
Plant high, leaving the top of the rootball just above the surrounding soil to avoid burying the crown of the plant.
Mulch with gravel or pine needles in arid climates. No mulch is needed where conditions are moister. Always avoid bark, grass clippings, or compost as mulch materials.
Allow some of the plants to set seed (don't deadhead all of the flower spikes)*.
Fertilize sparingly. One time each year in the fall is enough. Apply a light application of an organic or natural fertilizer such as Yum Yum Mix as a top dressing around the plants. Don't use high nitrogen water soluble fertilizer like Miracle Gro

*To keep penstemon that have finely textured or matted evergreen foliage looking their best, you'll want to 'deadhead" them. Shear off the fading flowering spikes just as the plant is going out of flower. Gently bunch the flower spikes together with one hand and cut them off at the point where they go down into the mat of foliage with your clipper in your other hand. Recommended for the following varieties: P. pinifolius types (‘Compactum', ‘Mersea Yellow', ‘Nearly Red', ‘Magdalena Sunshine' and ‘Tall Orange Mix'), as well as Penstemon linarioides v. coloradensis and Penstemon virens ('Blue Lips').

More in-depth guidance for growing Penstemon: Watch our video: How To Plant Penstemon or read articles: Growing Penstemon, Penstemon for the Waterwise Garden, David’s Favorite Plants: Pineleaf Beardtongue, The Beardtongue Family: Penstemania for Penstemon and The Genus Penstemon: The Royalty of American Wildflowers The Genus Penstemon: The Royalty of American Wildflowers (Part 2).

View more Planting Guides, or download our complete Planting Guide for tips on caring for your plants when you receive your order, as well as planting instructions for Perennials, Spring-Planted Bulbs, Fall-Planted Bulbs, Cacti & Succulents, Xeric Plants and more.

Shipping

No longer available this season.

As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Some perennials are shipped as potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat. The ‘Plant Information’ section describes how that item will ship. All perennials and spring-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.

Perennials and spring-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your hardiness zone. Perennial and spring-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service toll-free at (800) 925-9387 or contact us by email.

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Over $100	15%

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Over $100	$39.95

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