About Penstemon
Sometimes called beardtongue, penstemon plants are perennials that will reward you with brilliant non-stop blooms atop deep bronze-green foliage. Native to North America, penstemon can be found all over the continent! Penstemon are true prairie flowers and open spaces in California, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico are lucky enough to have their own varieties that are native to their region. These flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies into the garden, are drought tolerant, and offer a variety of colors such as scarlet, pink, blue, purple, orange, yellow, and white.
When to Plant Penstemon Seeds
To start indoors, following a two to four week cold treatment, sow seeds in starter trays or small pots six to eight weeks before the last spring frost, Penstemon seeds require a period of cold weather, called stratification. After the danger of frost has passed, harden off the seedlings and transplant them into your garden.
To directly sow outdoors, plant in late fall. Seeds will receive a natural cold stratification while they lay dormant through the winter.
Where to Plant Penstemon Seeds
Penstemon thrives in full sun, with dry to medium moisture, in well-drained, sandy soils. Many penstemon are native to sandy plains or rocky soils! While penstemon are generally known for their hardiness, they are sensitive to stagnant water and overly moist soil. These plants are drought tolerant once established and are perfect for beds, borders, rock gardens, and make great cut flowers.
How to Plant Penstemon Seeds
Penstemon seeds require light to germinate, so be careful not to cover them when planting. Learn more about germination light requirements here.
Press flower seeds into soil, but do not cover. Keep seeds moist until germination, or 14 to 30 days.
If directly sowing seeds in the fall, loosen the soil and scatter the seed thinly on top. Press into the soil and spread a very thin layer of sand or potting soil over the seeds. Penstemon seeds require light to germinate, so do not lay a thick cover over them. The seeds will lie dormant through the winter (receiving a natural cold-stratification) and germinate when the conditions warm the following spring.
How to Care for Penstemon
Many penstemon varieties thrive in arid climates. Penstemons need very little water and barely any fertilizer. Once established, water only when the top inch of soil is completely dry. Fertilize when planting only. Deadhead after flowering to maintain vigor and cut back to about two inches above the soil in late fall or early winter. As long as penstemon is grown in an arid environment, it is generally disease free, but keep an eye out for slugs, snails, spider mites and eelworms.