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Tushar Bluemat Penstemon

Penstemon xylus

$10.39
$10.39 $12.99
per Plant - 5" Deep Pot
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ZONES  5-8 | Good to grow! Zone
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Native to the Tushar Mountains of Utah, Penstemon xylus (Tushar Bluemat Beardtongue) is a tiny yet tough Penstemon selection well suited to high elevation gardens at 5,000-8,000 feet. Its blue to blue-violet flowers attract pollinators from June to July. Steel-blue foliage is evergreen and deer resistant, offering year-round interest. This Penstemon is happy in gritty soils and xeric conditions, thriving in full sun sites. Its compact size makes it ideal for rock gardens or crevice gardens. A 2023 PlantSelect® selection.

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Description

Tushar Bluemat Penstemon is a regionally native plant well-adapted to the harsh climates of the West. It has been tested by Plant Select®, a regional plant introduction organization founded in 1997 as a collaboration between Colorado State University and Denver Botanic Gardens. The organization has brought together many of the region's best horticulturists, plant breeders, landscapers, and commercial plant growers with the goal of introducing regionally suitable plants for the Great Plains and Intermountain states.

Planting & Care

Tips for growing Penstemon (Beardtongue)

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

  1. They need “elbow room,” maximum sun, heat and don’t like to be crowded by other plants.
  2. Plant only in well-drained soils; clay soils and Penstemon are incompatible.
  3. Avoid overly enriched soils; too much compost and fertilizer will shorten their lifespan.
  4. They establish quickly and the amount and frequency of watering needs to be reduced after about 8 to 10 weeks to create dry conditions.
  5. 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.
  6. Plant high, leaving the top of the rootball just above the surrounding soil to avoid burying the crown of the plant.
  7. 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.
  8. Allow some of the plants to set seed (don't deadhead all of the flower spikes)*.
  9. 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 Grow.

*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: Growing Penstemon, The Beardtongue Family: Penstemania for Penstemon.

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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 fall-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.

Perennials and fall-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your Growing Zone. Perennial and fall-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 at (801) 769-0300 or contact us by email or chat.

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Key Features

Light Requirements

  • Full Sun

Water Tolerance

Xeric

Bloom Time

Early to mid summer

Advantages

  • Bee Friendly
  • Attracts Butterflies
  • Attracts Hummingbirds
  • Native
  • Groundcover
  • Winter Interest
  • Evergreen
  • Low Maintenance
  • Rock Gardens
  • Deer Resistant

Tolerates

  • Dry Sites
  • Occasional Drought

Additional information

Mature Height

3-6" tall

Mature Spread

15-18" wide

Soil Type

  • Clay Soil
  • Compost Enriched Garden Loam Soil
  • Well-Drained Soil

Soil Moisture

  • Average
  • Waterwise

Planting Time

  • Fall

Awards

Plant Select®

Native To

North America

Growing Zones

  • Zone 5
  • Zone 6
  • Zone 7
  • Zone 8

Neonicotinoid Free

Yes

Ships As

Potted Plant
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Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 4 reviews.

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Reviews

It’sa lovely compact plant. Still

"It’sa lovely compact plant. Still waiting for the flowers."

— Robert H. (5/5)

Choice Penstemon for a rock garden.

"A wee bit sensitive to overwatering, I planted some for a client and they watered them to death. In my garden however, they've been quite nice and are a great low grower for a rock garden."

— Chad (5/5)

A unique, healthy plant

"I am anxious to see how this unusual plant develops as a kind of groundcover between rhodies and pieris."

— Jetes (5/5)

I love this plant!

"I love this beautiful little penstemon. Evergreen foliage and beautiful lavender blooms that shine in summer. Its been a great addition to my wonderful cactus / high desert plants garden! (Sweepstakes)"

— Faerieanne (5/5)

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