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Photo:
Pat Kolling
Taxon ID#
66
A phenomenal display of bright-red/orange tubular flowers held over attractive, evergreen pine needle-like foliage.
Scientific Name:
Penstemon pinifolius
Common Name 1
› Pineneedle Beardtongue
Family:
Scrophulariaceae
Origins:
Southern New Mexico and eastern Arizona.
Plant Type:
Herbaceous Plant, Perennial
Common Name 2
› Pineneedle Penstemon
Common Name 3
› Pineleaf Beardtongue
Oregon native:
no
Western state native:
yes
Scroll down for more information on each topic
Landscape Application Information
Seasonal Care
Resource Links
MAINTENANCE
Maintenance Level:
Low
Min. USDA Hardiness Zone:
4
Sun Preference:
Full Sun
Water Preference:
VL
Soil Preference:
Sandy Soil, Average Soil, Low Fertility Soil
Fertilizer Needs:
Fertilize sparingly. One time each year in the fall is enough. Apply a light application of an organic or natural fertilizer such as a top dressing around the plants. Don't use high nitrogen water soluble fertilizers.
Recommended Mulch:
Mulch with gravel or pine needles in arid climates. No mulch is needed where conditions are moister. Always avoid bark, grass clippings, or compost as mulch materials.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
Foliage Color:
Green
Foliage Description:
Resembles a tiny mugo pine with thin, evergreen leaves held on tidy stems giving the plant year-round interest
Fragrant:
no
Predominant flower color:
Red
Flower Description:
Red or bright orange tubular flowers
Fall color:
no
Fall Color Description:
Winter Foliage:
Evergreen
Winter Interest:
yes
Winter Interest Description:
Mature height:
6-12"
Mature spread:
15-24"
Growth rate:
LANDSCAPE APPLICATION
Deer Resistant:
no
Fire Resistant:
yes
Attracts Pollinators:
yes
Attracts Butterflies:
no
Native Habitat:
Attracts Birds:
yes
Cut/Dried Flowers:
yes
Used by Wildlife:
no

Swales:
no
Wildlife Use:
Photo:
Kathy Ketchum
Hedge/Screen:
no
Border:
yes
Erosion Control:
yes
Windbreak:
no
Ground Cover:
no
Provides Shade:
no
Rock Garden:
yes
Cover Structures:
no
First Bloom:
Jul
Last Bloom:
Adds Texture/Movement:
Sep
Ornamental Accent:
yes
no
Garden Observations:
Seasonal Care
Maintenance
SEASONAL CARE
Spring Care:
Summer Care:
To keep penstemon that have finely textured or matted evergreen foliage looking their best, you'll want to deadhead them. Shear off the fading flowering spikes just as the plant is going out of flower. Gently bunch the flower spikes together with one hand
Fall Care:
Allow some of the plants to set seed (don't deadhead all of the flower spikes). In colder areas, a layer of dry mulch should be applied after the first hard freeze.
Winter Care:
Leave some stems for frost protection and mulch with straw in winter, if necessary.
Long Term Care:
Plant high, leaving the top of the rootball just above the surrounding soil to avoid burying the crown of the plant. They need ?elbow room,? maximum sun, heat and don?t like to be crowded by other plants.
Insect Pests:
Wildlife Pests:
Diseases:
The OSU Plant Clinic has found Phytophthora spp., Rhizoctonia spp., and Fusarium spp. associated with root rots of Penstemon spp. grown in Oregon. (https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-and-disease-descriptions?title=Penstemon-Root+Rot)
Environmental Problems:
Landscape Problems:
Care Comments:
When using drip irrigation, be sure to put the emitter off to the side of the plant, not right on top of the root ball to avoid overwatering the plant. Penstemon are low maintenance. The main requirement for success is that they need to be planted in wel
RESOURCES
OSU Landscape Profile:
USDA Plants:
Calscape Database:
LBJ Native Plant Database:
Missouri Botanical Garden Database:
Monrovia Profile:
Alternate Source 1:
Alternate Source 2:
Source Comment:
Landscape Application
Resource Links
Plant Maintenance Information

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