Rocky Mountain Penstemon in the Landscape
Diane Jones, Draggin' Wing Farm, Water-thrifty Plants for Idaho
Scientfic Name: Penstemon strictusCommon Name: Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Description: One of the most reliable, long-lived penstemons in the garden. Puts out a profusion of violet-blue flower spikes in late spring and again in fall if deadheaded. Like many penstemons, it attracts hummingbirds. The low evergreen clumps of leathery leaves persist through the winter.
Native Habitat: Open woodlands, pinyon-juniper and mountain brush communities from Central Wyoming south to the Four Corners of CO, NM, AZ, and UT.
Cultural Requirement
Soil: Not picky about soil.
Moisture Tolerance: Low to very low supplemental water; does well on drip.
Sun/Shade/Preference: Full sun to part shade.
Transplanting: Easy.
Propagation: Seed, cuttings or division.
Maintenance (pruning, fertilization, deadheading, division, irrigation, etc): Remove spent flower stalks to encourage re-bloom in the fall.
Insect, disease, or other problems: None of concern.
Landscape Value
Use in the Landscape: Valuable for attractive low mound of dark green leaves and generous display of purple flowers spring and fall.
Foliage: Spear-like medium dark green leaves.
Flower: Lots of blue-violet tubular flowers densely packed along upright spikes.
Timing: May-July.
Color: Blue/Lavender.
Form: Mound of basal leaves with flower stalks overhead.
Ultimate Size: 24"-30" x 24"-30"
Rate of Growth: Moderate growth with supplemental water.
Suggested Plant Partners: Mountain Hollyhock, Winterfat, Pussytoes.
Availability: Available at specialty nurseries.
Cultivars: 'Bandera' is said to be more tolerant of heavy clay soils.
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