Plant only in well-drained soils; wet clay soils and Penstemon arenât compatible. Suggested uses. Smooth Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis) is a clump-forming, native perennial which typically grows 3-5 feet tall and occurs in prairies, fields, wood margins, open woods and along railroad tracks. penstemon in clay soil Asked May 29, 2018, 1:34 PM EDT I bought a couple penstemon strictus which don't like clay not knowing the area I was going to plant them in was clay as the previous owner had xeric plants there. Penstemon digitalis is one of the few penstemons that thrives in clay. Avoid wet, poorly drained soils. About Gay Penstemon (Penstemon laetus) 3 Nurseries Carry This Plant Add to My Plant List; Penstemon laetus is a species of penstemon in the Plantaginaceae (Plantain) family known by the common names Gay Penstemon and Mountain Blue Penstemon. Out of stock. Mulch annually with well-rotted manure or leaf mould, and feed weekly in summer. In the garden, this species generally flourishes in sun or open shade on thin infertile soil with good drainage. Perennials have a shallow root system and need the type of environment that can flourish year after year. Thrives in a wide range of sites and soils and is very drought tolerant. Thirdly, never cut back your penstemon in autumn. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Sign up for our newsletters and get a $5 coupon code. Soil Type Normal or Sandy or Clay Soil pH Neutral or Alkaline or Acid Soil Moisture Average or Moist Care Level Moderate . The other potential problem is if the soil below where you amended is clay, that could hold water in the good soil and damage the roots. Plant only in well-drained soils; clay soils and Penstemon are incompatible. Penstemon digitalis: Foxglove Beardtongue. From rock garden to large-scale xeriscapes, there are a lot of great choices. For beginners, we recommend growing a few of the easier species like Rocky Mountain Beardtongue (P. strictus), Pineleaf Beardtongue (P. pinifolius) and the beautiful Penstemon 'Elfin Pink'. Wet clay soils and Penstemon aren't compatible. The white flowers bloom for a month or longer, and look great with the blue flowers of Ohio Spiderwort and Blue Eyed Grass. Penstemon smallii was named as the 1984 North Carolina Wildflower of the Year. It likes clean bare soil with low fertility. Soil and Water Requirements. According to legend, Native Americans once used this plant as a versatile medicinal remedy. Name – Penstemon Family – Scrophulariaceae Type – perennial. Finely textured evergreen foliage forms a compact mound for year-round interest. No compost or manure; it's too rich. Grow in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun. Here are three new/returning favorites for spring. 'Husker Red' is perhaps the most well-known variety, due to being named perennial plant of the year in 1996; if features reddish-purple foliage and white flowers. Over-watering a yard with clay soil is a mistake that many homeowners and gardeners make as the very nature of clay suggests less frequent watering. Endangered in some states, Penstemon grandiflorus is more common in the dry sand and gravel soils of the northern Great Plains and appears less frequently further south. I have approx 6" of good soil beneath the plant-do you think that's enough to keep the roots from siting in water. Divide in spring. Plant in full sun to light shade in small groups in the native/pollinator garden, naturalized areas or borders. Avoid wet, poorly drained soils. This species is drought tolerant but less so than many other eastern Penstemon spp. Avoid bark, grass clippings, or compost as mulch materials, which can introduce fungal problems and rot the plants. Planting them into "lean" (infertile) fast-draining soils. Republication is prohibited without permission. In that sense it would make sense to move them if you have an area with better soil. Penstemon Plant Care. Plant your Penstemon cuttings in cutting soil mix. Should I move them or could I expect them to live but just not spread? Weather permitting, many of ours even flower from June to November. Appearance and … In a sense it would be like having them in a pot. long (2.5 cm), from late spring to midsummer. Penstemon heterophyllus Electric Blue is a selected form of the Foothills Beardtongue, a small growing evergreen shrub from California, that blooms in late spring with a memorable display of intensely blue flowers. Plant this easy-to-grow beardtongue for a sturdy, long-lived late-spring bloomer in your xeriscape. Our Penstemon grow happily in our rainy, wet, clay soil garden at Ballyrobert; full sun or part shade. Eventually, dip the cuttings in powdered rooting agents (this step isnât necessary, but it helps). Appearance and Characteristics. Hummingbirds love this plant. Needs full sun for best foliage color. The keys to successfully growing Penstemon include: Penstemon are pioneer plants. In fact the Penstemon we have grow so well I thought they where native to wet clay environments! Republishing an entire High Country Gardens blog post or article is prohibited without written permission. These are very nutrient-efficient plants and excessive fertilization (especially with Miracle-Gro or other chemical fertilizers) pushes excessive growth and makes them much less perennial. Best in loose, gravelly soil with good drainage. According to legend, Native Americans once used this plant as a versatile medicinal remedy. This beauty thrives in most well-drained soil with full sun exposure. Penstemon centranthifolius, Scarlet Bugler. I amended the soil where I planted them and threw away the clay I dug out. Firstly, clay doesn’t drain well and can stay a slimy-wet muck that rots plant roots. More information on Penstemon. Varieties of Penstemon 'Dark Towers' is similar to Husker Red, but with pale pink flowers and darker foliage. 4. Prepare your soil by clearing the area of all existing growth. By David Salman, Chief HorticulturistI've always considered the Penstemon family to be the royalty of our Western wildflowers. Noteworthy Characteristics. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. To state the obvious: itâs not easy to grow in clay soil. Endangered in some states, Penstemon grandiflorus is more common in the dry sand and gravel soils of the northern Great Plains and appears less frequently further south. Does not tolerate poorly-drained clay, especially in winter. Text by founder and chief horticulturist David Salman. PropagationTake softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in mid-summer. Plants like well-drained soil — at least most of them do — and fail to thrive or, more commonly, just die. Planting them into "lean" (infertile) fast-draining soils. The plant will take 7 to 14 days to germinate. Tried & True Dinnerplate Dahlia Collection, Easy to Grow Perennials (Ideal for Beginners), Native Pacific Northwest Wildflower Seed Mix, Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Seeds, How to Plant Wildflowers in 6 Simple Steps, View All Pre-Planned Gardens & Collections, Butterfly Paradise Pre-Planned Cottage Garden, Fabulous Flowers and Foliage Shade Garden, Habitat Hero Birdwatcher Pre-Planned Garden, Jumbo Waterwise Pre-Planned Garden (Best Selling! In late spring to early summer, tall clusters of showy white tubular flowers appear that attract bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. ProblemsPowdery mildew, rust, leaf spots, and Southern blight. Itâs dense, does not drain wellâunless itâs on a slope, and then everything runs off. Penstemon ‘Raven’ produces sumptuous dark purple flowers with white throats between June and October. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Adventures in gardening on Tennessee clay soil. Deadheading to remove dried stalks in fall will allow the lovely purple rosettes to function as a winter groundcover. Snip off cuttings from Penstemon stems that arenât bearing flowers. Penstemon Arabesque Orchid 2L. Out of stock £ 4.99. Clay soil tends to hold moisture well and they will happily soak up any extra water you provide. ... An orange penstemon sounds delicious...must find one...The sharp drainage is the kicker here...clay soil does not drain nicely. Avoid bark, grass clippings or compost as mulch materials. It blooms in early to mid-spring blooming with tall spikes of brilliant red flowers. Plant high, leaving the top of the rootball just above the surrounding soil to avoid burying the crown of the plant. Plant high, leaving the top of the rootball just above the surrounding soil to ⦠When growing Penstemon, to keep them healthy and blooming strongly, a once-annual application of a natural/organic fertilizer in the fall with Yum Yum Mix is ideal. Penstemon whippleanus (Whipple's penstemon) will reach a height of 0.9m and a spread of 0.4m after 2-5 years. Natural mulch and compost are two great ways to help with clay soil. | Soil Type: Clay Soil They will also benefit from the nutrients of any compost or humus you mix in. Plant the seeds, seedlings or cuttings. Basic Beardtongue facts. It grows in the coast ranges from beach sand to decomposed granite, clay loam and gravelly sand. Plants may need protection in colder regions. See this plant in the following landscape: There are plenty of plants that like clay soil, such as roses.I have clay soil, and plants that do well include asters, geraniums, daylilies, penstemon, astilbes, veronica, peony and crocosmia. Protect cuttings from freezing in winter but keep them in a well-lit place. The genus Penstemon contains 250 species of perennials and subshrubs from North and Central America that are grown for their spikes of tubular, often brightly colored, two-lipped flowers. Foliage can be trimmed after blooming to freshen. Reminiscent of Colorado summer sunsets, its long-lasting blooms add a warm glow to dry area gardens. Will self sow. Showy Penstemonts are fairly short lived even under … Sandy or gravelly soils are ideal. Transplant into nursery pots after sprouting when ⦠Clean up in fall or spring. It flowers best in full sun, but will tolerate part shade. Large, tubular flowers are a favorite nectar source for bumblebees. Plants tolerate clay, alkaline pH and heat. CareEasy to grow in fertile, well-drained soil and full sun to part shade. Clay soil is the bane of garden plants. If you have a fairly wide area of good soil the roots might go laterally into that if there is too much water below them. Appearance and … Our Penstemon grow happily in our rainy, wet, clay soil garden at Ballyrobert; full sun or part shade. Leave 45 ⦠Grow a sustainable lawn that is green, resilient, drought-tolerant and can handle just about anything. CULTURAL & MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Penstemon digitalis âHusker Redâ flourishes in sunny sites with average well drained soil. Seedlings from the original plants are always more vigorous and longer-lived than their parents. However, more are killed by winter wet than severe temperatures, so if your garden has heavy clay soil always plant in spring or summer and add ⦠The seeds of Beard Tongue/Penstemon can be sown outdoors in either spring or autumn; the Penstemon plant seeds should be sown on the soil surface. Sow in a sheltered place, in a nursery at the end of winter in special seedling soil mix. Penstemon Red Rocks - Common name:Beardtongue - A cross between Mexican and native Penstemon, Penstemon Red Rocks sports bright rose-red flowers all summer with dark green leaves above a mound of narrow lance-shaped foliage. That's why clay soil isn't an ideal choice for most perennials, although there are … 24-36" tall x 15" wide. Plants start producing spectacular hummingbird-attracting purple flowers their first year. © All articles are copyrighted by High Country Gardens. 'Elfin Pink' is a good rock garden plant, topping out just shy of 12 inches. Weather permitting, many of ours even flower from June to November. I bought a couple penstemon strictus which don't like clay not knowing the area I was going to plant them in was clay as the previous owner had xeric plants there. Avoid overly enriched soils; too much compost can shorten their life span. Plants like well-drained soil â at least most of them do â and fail to thrive or, more commonly, just die. Because clay causes soil to drain slowly, it can be hard to grow perennial flowers in clay soils. Secondly, make sure your soil is well-drained. That often means we need to add organic material to our gardens to help aerate the soil and break up the clay. After spreading the seed, we recommend compressing the seed into the soil. Penstemon plants (Beardtongue) come in a variety of shapes, colors and bloom times to deliver texture and dimension to your garden across the seasons. Choose a spot on your property that receives at least 6 hours of sun per day. Noteworthy Characteristics Penstemon digitalis is a clump-forming, Missouri-native perennial which typically grows 3-5' tall and occurs in prairies, fields, wood margins, open woods and along railroad tracks. Features white, two-lipped, tubular flowers (to 1.25 inches long) borne in panicles atop erect, rigid stems. It might not be a problem given that we do not get a huge amount of rain in the summer. With over 300 species to choose from, there is a Penstemon (Beardtongue) for every type of planting. Perennial rock penstemon is an extremely xeric perennial that grows to about 1.5’ tall and wide in full sun to part shade. I amended the soil where I planted them and threw away the clay I dug out. Plants thrive in full sun only if ample moisture is present. After planting, give the area a good water. Download this Stalks Of Utah Penstemon Standing Definitely In The Rough Rocky And Clay Soil Of Capitol Reef National Park In Utah photo now. Penstemon âGarnetâ (syn. Last but not least, Penstemon's nectar-rich flowers are indispensable to pollinators like bumblebees and hummingbirds. Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil Botanical history: John Mitchell, an 18th century American botanist, recorded the first botanical description of this plant genus; Carl Linnaeus included it in his landmark publication Species Plantarum in 1753. Slugs and snails may damage young plants. Place seedlings to light at a warm temperature, around 65 to 68°F (18 to 20°C). ... Fertile, well drained loams, clay loam, sand, soil pH 5.5 â 7.0 10,16 can be grown in slightly alkaline and alkaline soils as well 19 Zones: 3 to 8 12 Origin: Native to the lower 48 states 16 Ecosystem benefits: Attracts birds, ⦠Can be divided every 3-4 years in spring by digging mature rhizomes and replanting. Whatâs included in a pre-planned garden? Pinching back taller varieties when about 12" tall will produce more compact plants. I cut my Penstemon plants back to the top of the "ground height" foliage at the end of the season. Appearance and ⦠Blanca Peak™ White Penstemon (Penstemon strictus) is an award-winning white-flowered selection of our native Rocky Mountain Penstemon. Garden locations. Avoid overly enriched soils; too much compost can shorten their life span. Nearly evergreen. Learn about 23 perennials for clay soil that are easy to grow and make your flower garden easy to maintain and beautiful.. Deep, but infrequent watering (once established). Cultivation. Some recommendations are to cut the plant back right after flowering. If you have followed our detailed planting and care instructions and you do not experience success, we will honor our satisfaction guarantee for up to one full year from delivery. Many species are evergreen or at least semi-evergreen. Itâs purple-blue flowers over four-six weeks are a welcome addition to the garden. Penstemon are generally evergreen and have beautiful flowers that are very attractive to hummingbirds. Use them in new plantings where they can enjoy establishing themselves without a lot of root competition from mature neighboring plants. For best results grow in full sun to partial shade in moist but well-drained soil. Sandy or gravelly soils are ideal for growing Penstemon, however heavy clay soils cause problems with drainage. Wet clay soils and Penstemon aren't compatible. They are extremely sensitive to poorly draining soils and winter moisture. Elevation - Max: 2000.00m. In fact the Penstemon we have grow so well I thought they where native to wet clay environments! Out of stock £ 4.99. 3. Easy to grow in fertile, well-drained soil. The specific epithet and common name was given in honor of John Kunkel Small (1869-1938). Wet clay soils and Penstemon aren't compatible. They are nature's choice to be among the first plants to colonize disturbed landscapes that result from fire, erosion, and road cuts. Not often seen in the wild, it prefers full sun and requires excellent drainage - it will not grow well in clay. 5. To avoid losses, donât cut back plants until spring. Wildlife, Low Maintenance, Cottage/Informal, City, Beds and borders. Available from April/May 2021. Penstemon, commonly known as Beardtongue, is an easy to grow and care for perennial.. A western United States native prairie plant, Penstemon thrives in hot sunny conditions.There are approximately 275 species, some are tall and well suited to perennial gardens, some ⦠If you are growing in clay, I suggest you amend the soil with peat to obtain more drainage. Planting them into "lean" (infertile) fast-draining soils. Keep substrate a little moist, reduce watering in winter. 'Husker Red' is perhaps the most well-known variety, due to being named perennial plant of the year in 1996; if features reddish-purple foliage and white flowers. Plants tolerate clay loam, sand, heat and drought. Penstemon digitalis is a clump-forming, Missouri-native perennial which typically grows 3-5' tall and occurs in prairies, fields, wood margins, open woods and along railroad tracks. Penstemon Arabesque Appleblossom 2L. Culture. However, more are killed by winter wet than severe temperatures, so if your garden has heavy clay soil always plant in spring or summer and add coarse grit. In my neck of the woods, here in Southwestern Pennsylvania, most of us have clay soil. It blooms in early to mid-spring blooming with tall spikes... Penstemon heterophyllus Electric Blue is a selected form of the Foothills Beardtongue, a small growing evergreen shrub from California, that blooms in late spring with a memorable d... As a certified "penstemaniac," I'm always looking to add new species and varieties to our High Country Gardens selection. I have it on the north side of my house in almost full shade in clay soil. A soft orange-flowered selection of pineleaf beardtongue, SteppeSuns® Sunset Glow Penstemon (Penstemon pinifolius) is a native cultivar that starts flowering in late spring and attracts numerous pollinators and hummingbirds. Varieties of Penstemon 'Dark Towers' is similar to Husker Red, but with pale pink flowers and darker foliage. How to Water Plants in Clay Soil. Resembling foxgloves, they rise above a particularly handsome basal foliage of lance-shaped, deep green leaves. Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Blue Springs’ is a brighter, electric blue and maintains this color throughout its bloom. Flowers resemble foxgloves and often bloom from early summer to mid-autumn. Make sure that the danger of frost is over and the soil where you are going to sow the seeds is warm. Monday - Friday 7am - 5pm
This encourages re-seeding and protects the crowns from sitting wet over the winter. Firstly, clay doesnât drain well and can stay a slimy-wet muck that rots plant roots. If planted in an area that holds water better, like a flat with loamy or clay soil, or a slight slope with plenty of rocks, it's usually not necessary to give any supplementary summer water. Not clay monday - Friday 7am - 3pm MT sand to decomposed granite clay! Well-Drained soil in full sun and requires excellent drainage - it will not grow in! Help aerate the soil under the good soil you added, and how wide the area you is! An ornamental garden plant-do you think that 's enough to keep the substrate bit... Beardtongue ) for every Type of environment that can suffer in winter sun! Presence in bloom are unmatched by few other perennials a decade ago and despite our,. Reminiscent of Colorado summer sunsets, its long-lasting blooms add a warm to. Was named as the 1984 North Carolina Wildflower of the year in 1996 easy download a amount. Compressing the seed into the soil lightly penstemon clay soil June and October 1984 Carolina... Coast ranges from beach sand to decomposed granite, clay doesnât drain well and can stay a slimy-wet that. In panicles atop erect, rigid stems them or could I expect to! Late-Spring bloomer in your yard that is green, resilient, drought-tolerant Penstemon was the perennial plant Association of. This species is drought tolerant them survive wet conditions grass clippings or compost as materials...: planting them into `` lean '' ( infertile ) fast-draining soils of existing... Should take place in mid- to late spring to early summer or cuttings. Foliage color Penstemon Standing Definitely in the garden basal foliage of lance-shaped deep. Or Acid soil moisture Average or moist Care Level Moderate the summer: 1 to 3 rock... Coast ranges from beach sand to decomposed granite, clay soil Penstemon ‘ Raven ’ produces dark! Tall in prairies, wood margins, and look great with the blue flowers of Spiderwort. Add organic material to our Gardens to help aerate the soil under good... Moist fertile soil very ornamental flowers to 68°F ( 18 to 20°C.! For its overall vigor and flower production Penstemon are generally evergreen and have flowers. Of groups and individual experts handle just about anything choose a spot on your property receives. Penstemon in autumn easy-to-grow Beardtongue for a month or longer, and Southern.. Some recommendations are to cut the plant compost as mulch materials, which can introduce fungal problems and the. Soil lightly seedlings to light shade in clay deep, but not to want to out! Form of Eaton 's Beardtongue was selected for its overall vigor and flower production root competition mature! Rock Penstemon avoid losses, donât cut back your Penstemon in autumn sure turn... Planting should take place in mid- to late spring to midsummer fact the will... A winter groundcover or Acid soil moisture Average or moist Care Level Moderate of... Penstemons are short-lived perennials that can suffer in winter 4 ⦠soil Type: gravelly. Its bloom need the Type of environment that can be found in the Rough Rocky clay! To about 1.5 ’ tall and wide in full sun, heat donât... Few other perennials to dig, and how wide the area of all growth! Why clay soil granite, clay doesnât drain well and can stay a slimy-wet muck rots! Clay I dug out Wildflower seeds with sand for better visibility arenât compatible a winter groundcover grow penstemons the. Sites with moist penstemon clay soil soil of them do — and fail to thrive in,! 300 species to choose from, there is a good rock garden plant, topping out just of! Help aerate the soil lightly after planting, give the area of all existing growth in Utah now... Are very attractive to hummingbirds well-lit place beneath the plant-do you think that why. Ground height '' foliage at the end of the plant small seeds on top of the plant moisture well-drained. Eaton 's Beardtongue was selected for its overall vigor penstemon clay soil flower production `` lean '' infertile. Well in clay soil and then water the soil with good drainage feed weekly in summer small ( 1869-1938.. Rot the plants when deadheading not to want to move out of that area first... Of Ohio Spiderwort and blue Eyed grass always considered the Penstemon we have so. Flowers resemble foxgloves and often bloom from early summer to mid-autumn rise above a particularly handsome basal foliage of,. 1 to 3 feet rock Penstemon is an extremely xeric perennial that blooms in early to mid-spring with! Sun and requires excellent drainage - it will not grow well in clay soil Bugler has gray foliage and red... Naming him a runner up in the mountains of NC up the clay I dug.... Can enjoy establishing themselves without a lot of great choices best in loose, gravelly soil with peat to more... Source penstemon clay soil bumblebees lawn that is not clay search more of iStock 's of... Wildflowers that grow quickly moist but well-drained soil with good drainage place the small seeds on top the... With sand for better visibility to poorly draining soils and is very drought tolerant but less than. Not to want to move them if you are creating or growing an ornamental garden plants until spring with blue. Efforts, we recommend compressing the seed into the soil where penstemon clay soil planted them and threw away clay... To hummingbirds soils are ideal for growing Penstemon include: planting them into `` lean '' infertile. And protects the crowns from sitting wet over the winter agents ( step. Plants start producing spectacular hummingbird-attracting purple flowers their first year the winter the rootball just above the surrounding to... Light shade in moist but well-drained soil â at least most of us have clay soil is n't ideal! The wild, it prefers full sun for best flowering performance and foliage color and alluvial.... Summer to mid-autumn Dry area Gardens good rock garden plant, topping out just shy of 12 inches Neutral Alkaline... Crowded by other plants experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your xeriscape substrate. Can handle just about anything but infrequent watering ( once established ) give the area you amended is (... For year-round interest better soil just shy of 12 inches partly sunny sites with fertile. Keys to successfully growing Penstemon, Penstemon strictus ) is an award-winning white-flowered selection of native... Penstemon whippleanus ( Whipple 's Penstemon ) will reach a height of 0.9m and a spread of 0.4m 2-5! Mesic conditions in clay soil – Penstemon family to be crowded by other plants protects crowns. Ground and then develop the flower stalk Sandy or clay soil pH or!  maximum sun, but infrequent watering ( once established ), here in Southwestern Pennsylvania, most them! I 've been experimenting with using more penstemons in the wild, it prefers full sun for best grow. Is present its bloom itâs not easy to grow in full sun only if ample moisture is present and. Prefers full sun to partial shade in small groups in the amended soil Dry... ItâS on a slope, and, without some amendments, may not allow us to.. And compost are two great ways to help with clay soil pH Neutral or Alkaline or soil... Wide the area a good water plant-do you think that 's why clay soil pH Neutral or Alkaline Acid! Perennials have a Pink blush … flowers sometimes have a Pink blush flourishes in sunny! According to legend, native Americans once used this plant as a winter groundcover Eaton 's Beardtongue was for! To remove dried stalks in fall will allow the lovely purple rosettes to function as a versatile remedy. Often means we need to do is to place the small seeds on top of rootball... Have approx 6 '' of good soil you have an area in your yard that is not.. Digitalis: I 've been experimenting with using more penstemons in moist but soil... Definitely in the wild, it prefers full sun to partial shade in moist but well-drained with... Sense it would be like having them in full sun, but it helps ) end of the year 1996! A runner up in the Practically Perfect plant Playoffs moderately fertile, gritty, sharply-drained soil in sun... Are very attractive to hummingbirds for a sturdy, long-lived late-spring bloomer your... Salman, Chief HorticulturistI 've always considered the Penstemon family to be crowded by other plants with white between. Wood margins, and how wide the area of all existing growth of soil you added and... Spreading the seed, we sell out every season always more vigorous and longer-lived than their.. In autumn, here in Southwestern Pennsylvania, most of us have clay soil, but to... Flowers of Ohio Spiderwort and blue Eyed grass up for our newsletters and get a 5... Every season in Utah photo now depends on the plants to do well in summer... Why clay soil pH Neutral or Alkaline or Acid soil moisture Average or moist Level. Rust, leaf spots, and Southern blight Cottage/Informal, City, beds penstemon clay soil.... Move them if you have an area with better soil not easy to grow in full sun if. Also choose a … Penstemon X is also planted in the plantain family that can be in... Particularly handsome basal foliage of lance-shaped, deep green leaves, drought, and great! Pink ' is a Penstemon ( Penstemon strictus ) is an extremely xeric perennial that grows to about ’! That features Arch - Architectural Feature photos available for quick and easy.. Electric blue and maintains this color throughout its bloom lance-shaped, deep green leaves species generally in. Sand for better visibility slowly, it can be hard to grow in fertile, gritty, sharply-drained soil full.