Nature's Seed

Utah Treasures: Native Penstemon - Wildflowers in the Landscape

By Skylar Christensen, Nature’s Seed

My fascination with penstemon wildflowers began with an unintentional massacre. Growing up in the foothills of rural northern Utah, I remember a particular patch of electric blue penstemons growing along the roadside near my home. I called them “bluebells” at the time, oblivious to their more common name of “beardtongue”. I remember my mother often commenting as we drove past, wishing she could have such beautiful blue flowers in her garden.

One day I decided to surprise my mother by fulfilling her wish. I attached a small trailer to our four -wheeler and drove to the penstemon patch. There in my youthful ignorance, I proceeded to dig up every last plant, leaving nothing behind but scars in the ground as evidence of my floral theft. I then drove home with my trailer full of pilfered penstemon and transplanted them into the garden. Mom would be so thrilled!

My memory is fuzzy recalling how my mother reacted, but I do remember what followed. For the first couple days the garden was spectacular. I really thought I’d pulled it off. But after a while the leaves shriveled, the blooms faded, and eventually every one of those beautiful vibrant blue wildflowers died. What I failed to understand at the time was their reliance on their taproot; a survival tool common to many of our native perennial wildflowers. By digging up fully established penstemon, I had severed them from their life-sustaining tether.

Later in life I would learn how to successfully transplant penstemon while still in their first-year rosette form, but this experience has always stuck with me.

Penstemon, or beardtongue, is a uniquely North American genus containing over 270 species. Their range stretches from Alaska to Guatemala, but most are native to the Intermountain West with Utah being the epicenter of penstemon diversity. Over 100 species of penstemon can be found here, from mountain tops to valley floors. While the sego lily’s status of state flower may be untouchable thanks to its legendary role in Utah history, I would argue that penstemons are actually more Utahn than the beloved but rarely seen lily. As for what penstemon species would be the top candidate for a theoretical state flower replacement, that’s up for debate.

One of my favorite aspects of penstemon wildflowers is their ability to thrive with neglect. As a somewhat lazy gardener, this is probably why I’ ve always had good success with them in the landscape.

Unlike other ornamentals that require rich soils, regular moisture, mulching, fertilizer, and the occasional pep talk, penstemons couldn’t care less. If fact, too much attention will kill them faster than anything else. But be prepared to play the long game. Growing and establishing penstemon wildflowers from seed is a lesson in patience. Most seeds require stratification (exposure to moisture and cold) for a period of time in order to break dormancy. I find it’s easiest to direct sow seeds in the fall, let them overwinter in the soil, and germinate in the spring. They’ll spend their first year in rosette form, growing their taproot and biding their time. If you’re hoping for any successful transplanting, it’ s during the very early rosette stage where you’ll want to make your attempt. Wait too long and it will be too late as I found out as a child.

Here are my top three native penstemons to grow in the garden:

Rocky Mountain Penstemon

Easy to establish and long-lived, Penstemon strictus is probably the most well-known and commonly encountered species around the Intermountain West. In fact, Rocky Mountain penstemon has been known to establish a little too easily in some conditions, so be sure to remove the spent flower stalks after blooming if you’d like to avoid creep. Unlike other penstemon species, Rocky Mountain seems to handle a bit more shade and moisture. Colors range from purple, violet, pink, and blue with purple being the most common.

Palmer’s Penstemon

Penstemon palmeri, commonly called Palmer’s penstemon, has always been a top performer in my landscapes. It’ s also one of the few fragrant species, filling the June air with a sweet smelling perfume. Some folks describe the scent as rose-like while others compare it to grapes. The Palmer can grow quite tall too. I’ ve grown specimens that have reached six feet, but 3-4 feet seems to be the most common height. But what interests me the most about the Palmer is its cheerful, puffy clusters of pale pink flowers jutting up from the base on tall spikes. Look closer and you’ll spot a fuzzy yellow staminode, or “beardtongue”, sitting just inside the snapdragon-like blossom. As a bonus, gardens containing Palmer’ s penstemon will attract the biggest bumblebees you’ve ever seen.

Firecracker Penstemon

Firecracker penstemon, Penstemon eatonii, is another staple in my landscapes. This is a species that truly lives up to its common name. Every June I look forward to its vivid scarlet-red flower spikes contrasted by dark, glossy evergreen foliage. Unlike the more puffed-up blossoms of the Palmer, firecracker penstemon features long, tubular flowers that hummingbirds find particularly attractive. I prefer to plant this species in masses rather than individually. The effect can be stunning, especially when paired with other dark green plants for a complementary color scheme. Rock gardens are also a great location for the firecracker. Scatter the seeds into soil pockets around boulders where irrigation doesn’t reach.

As for the penstemon that first grabbed my attention as a child, I’ve since found more growing in the area and have identified it as Penstemon cyananthus, or Wasatch penstemon. This higher elevation penstemon seems to glow with a bright, electric blue rarely found in nature. I consider it my favorite penstemon, but it’s actually one I’ve never grown... yet. When I do, I’ll try not to murder them this time.

Penstemon wildflowers are a delight when spotted in their native environment or when cultivated in our ornamental gardens. They symbolize the tough, resilient spirit of all Utahns: prospering in harsh environments, forming thriving communities, and showcasing diverse backgrounds and strengths. Sow these native treasures in your garden this year!

Wasatch Penstemon