Skip to product info
OUT OF STOCK
Ships in FALL

Western Native Penstemon Collection

$119.99
$119.99 $149.99
per Collection
Sale | Save 20%
ZONES  5-9 | Good to grow! Zone

Our Western Native Penstemon Collection of 12 will brighten your garden with jewel-toned blooms from mid-spring to early summer. A favorite of hummingbirds, Penstemons are low-maintenance native wildflowers with abundant blooms, and these four native cultivars are favorites for Western gardens. They’re deer and rabbit resistant, and love hot, dry growing conditions, so they’re an easy-to-grow addition to rock gardens and challenging sunny sites that need a pop of color to attract pollinators.

More Like This

Description

Our Western Native Penstemon Collection is a showcase of four favorite native Penstemon cultivars for Western gardens. Abundant blooms put on a beautiful show in low-water gardens to attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Our Western Native Penstemon Collection includes 12 plants, covering approximately 40 square feet when planted together:

*Plants are subject to change due to availability. No planting map included.


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.

Shipping

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.

View

Key Features

Light Requirements

  • Full Sun

Water Tolerance

Low-Water

Bloom Time

Mid spring to early summer

Advantages

  • Deer Resistant
  • Attracts Butterflies
  • Attracts Hummingbirds
  • Attracts Birds
  • Bee Friendly
  • Rabbit Resistant
  • Easy To Grow
  • Native
  • Rock Gardens

Additional information

Mature Height

Heights vary from 8-36" tall

Mature Spread

Covers approx. 40 sq ft

Soil Type

  • Sandy Soil
  • Low Fertility Soil
  • Well-Drained Soil

Soil Moisture

  • Waterwise

Planting Time

  • Fall

Special Groups

  • High Country Gardens Exclusive

Growing Zones

  • Zone 5
  • Zone 6
  • Zone 7
  • Zone 8
  • Zone 9

Can Send To PO Box

No

Ships to Hawaii & Alaska

No

Overall rating: 4.0 / 5 from 2 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Summary topics

Review topics: [].

Review highlights

Reviews

These seem to be growing ok.

"It would have been helpful to have the map, like the other planned gardens. But they seem to be doing ok."

— Ann (3/5)

Best pollinator collection ever!

"Beautiful full flowering garden for dryer area with added benefit of a total pollinator habitat!"

— Kathy (5/5)

Q&A

Your Recently Viewed