In the Range of Light

Penstemon speciosus in the garden, July 6, 2011

This Sierra native penstemon is a wonderful plant for the dry garden.  The flower color is highly variable and can range from a light sky blue to dark purple.  This penstemon blooms from late spring into early summer and easily tolerates lean soil and drought.  It needs at least four hours of direct sun daily.  The forms I have in the garden are relatively low growing, and range anywhere from three to ten inches tall.  In the wild, I’ve seen plants that are as large as two feet tall.  Generally, the higher the elevation, the lower growing the plant.  Check out the Calphotos website for more photos of showy penstemon:   http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-genre=Plant&where-taxon=Penstemon+speciosus

Showy penstemon combines well with other drought-tolerant, sun-loving native plants like Firecracker flower (Ipomopsis aggregata), Wooly sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum var. integrifolium), Woolly mules ears (Wyethia mollis), Nuttall’s linanthus (Linanthus nuttallii), and Sulphur buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum).  I’ve seen bees pollinating the flowers.  So far I have never noticed hummingbirds visiting this plant, but perhaps it’s because the flower spikes of the plants in my garden tend to grow almost horizontally to the ground.  This penstemon does not need any supplemental watering, but during very dry summers, when we get no thunderstorms, I will give them one watering while they are in bloom to extend the flowering period slightly.

Penstemon speciosus is fairly easy to start from seed in pots.  Cactus mix or standard potting soil (no manure) mixed with some perlite or pumice works well.  I sow the seed in the fall about a quarter of an inch under the soil, then top up the pot with another quarter inch of pumice.  If you direct sow the seed, do so in the fall as well.  Like most natives, the seeds of this species need a cold period to germinate.  Cuttings of this plant root fairly readily in perlite.  Dip the ends of the cuttings in rooting hormone before placing in the perlite.  Most plants begin blooming in their second or third year.

All in all, a lovely, carefree native plant.   The photos below were taken near Monument Pass and the Tahoe Rim Trail in South Lake Tahoe.  Check out those turquoise flowers!

Another beautiful shade of blue. Monument Pass, July 23, 2011

Penstemon speciosus near Monument Pass, July 23, 2011