   Penstemons - November 8, 2000 Jeff Schalau, County Director, Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County Native plants are a natural choice for informal, water conserving landscapes. A few large commercial growers have been selecting new varieties of native plants from wild populations in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. At or near the top of my list are the Penstemons. This showy perennial is a member of the Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae), attracts hummingbirds, and range in color from orange to red, to purple, to white, and everything between. Their growth form ranges from low-growing ground covers with short flower spikes to small basal rosettes that produce tall flower spikes. Most Penstemons have tubular flowers with trilobed petals jutting outward from the lower part of the corolla, hence the common name: beard tongue. They prefer good drainage and are very drought tolerant once established. Some irrigation may be required during the dry summer months prior to the monsoon season. Plant them in full or partial sun with ample growing space. Soil amendment will improve fertility and add organic matter to our typically nutrient-poor soils. Penstemons are spring bloomers and look best in rock gardens or planted among desert shrubs or cactus. Once established, they naturalize readily. Mountain States Wholesale Nursery in Glendale, Arizona grows four Penstemons species. They are: Firecracker Penstemon (Penstemon eatonii); Parry's Penstemon (Penstemon parryi); Superb Penstemon (Penstemon superbis); and Hill Country Penstemon (Penstemon triflorus). Firecracker Penstemon is a low growing, shrubby, evergreen perennial that blooms in late winter and early spring. It forms a small, dark green mound to 1 foot tall by 2 feet wide, with fiery scarlet-red flower spikes adding another 2 feet in height. It has dark green, lance-shaped leaves are 1 inch wide and up to 5 inches long. Parry's Penstemon is a spring-flowering perennial with light to dark pink or sometimes white flowers. The plant consists of a low rosette of leaves, usually less than 10 inches high, and flower stalks that can reach 4 feet tall. In time, the plant can reach a width of about 2 feet. The dark gray-green leaves are up to 4 inches long. Parry's Penstemon is native to the lower deserts of Arizona. Coral Penstemon is a short lived perennial with tall spikes of dark coral, tubular flowers. Each spring, a cluster of 4 to 6 foot tall stems emerges from the basal rosette. The gray-green leaves are up to 4 inches long, narrow at the base, and broad near the tip. Flowering can begin as early as February and last until May or June. After flowering, seeds develop in small, hard, oval capsules on the flower spikes. Coral Penstemon will hybridize with Parry's Penstemon when they are planted together and can be distinguished from Parry's Penstemon by the darker coral flowers. Hill Country Penstemon is a bushy, upright perennial to 2 feet tall, with glossy green leaves. The large, 1.5 inch long, deep pink flowers are funnel-shaped with 5 lobes. These lobes are strongly marked with dark lines, which are believed to attract pollinators to the nectar at the base of the tube. The flowers occur in clusters of 3 along the flower spike. Mountain States Wholesale Nursery rates this Penstemon very highly for its long bloom period. Penstemons are one of my favorite plants and all of these Penstemons are readily available from nurseries that order from Mountain States. Even if you do not plant Penstemons, look for them in the wild among the rocky arroyos, canyons, and scrublands of the Verde Valley and canyons along the Mogollon Rim. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension has publications and information on plant selection and soil preparation. If you have other gardening questions, call the Master Gardener line in the Cottonwood office at 646-9113 or E-mail us at mgardener@kachina.net and be sure to include your address and phone number. The Yavapai County Cooperative Extension web site is http://ag.arizona.edu/yavapai/. |