Penstemon, Rocky Mountain (pack)

Rocky Mountain Penstemon (Penstemon strictus) is an open-pollinated perennial wildflower with tall, erect spikes of bluish-purple blooms and a mat of dark green foliage that turns purplish in winter.

At a glance

• Botanical name: Penstemon strictus
• Type: Open-pollinated perennial; native to the Rocky Mountains
• USDA zones: 4 to 9
• Days to germinate: 15 to 30
• Sun: Full sun
• Planting depth: 1/8"
• Spacing after thinning: 12"
• Height at maturity: 12" to 36"; approx. 370 seeds per pack

Best for

• Dry, low-water gardens and xeriscapes
• Attracting bees, hummingbirds, and beneficial insects
• Long summer-to-fall color
• Native and pollinator plantings
• Adaptable soils with good drainage

How to grow

Sow 1/8" deep in full sun in fall or spring; seeds germinate in 15 to 30 days. The plant adapts to various soil types but prefers dry conditions and only light water once established. Thin to 12" apart when seedlings reach about 2" tall. A pack covers roughly 10 sq ft if broadcast, and the long-blooming spikes flower from summer into fall.

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