Penstemon strictus
Common Name(s):
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Rocky Mountain Beardtongue
Synonym:
Penstemon strictiformis
Strict Beardtongue
Flower:
Blue
Blooms :
May
to:
Jun
Multiple spires of large, royal-blue to purple tubular flowers with two upper lobes that project forward over the lower lips, three deeply cut lobes.
Botanical Description
Fragrant?
NO
Family:
Scrophulariaceae
Herbaceous Plant, Perennial
Foliage:
Green
Low mats of foliage with paired leaves that range from narrow and grass-like to broad and lance-shaped
Fall Color?
NO
Evergreen
Photo by:
Heading 6
Oregon Native?
NO
West State Native?
YES
Origins:
Southern WY to northern NM & northeastern AZ
Site Selection
Minimum USDA Hardiness Zone:
4
Water Needs:
L
Sun Needs:
Full Sun
Deer Resistant?
NO
Firewise?
YES
Height:
2-3'
Spread:
1-3'
Growth Rate:
Medium
Native Habitat:
Subalpine to valley sagebrush & conifer forests; Rocky Mountain penstemon is often associated with sagebrush in pinyon-juniper woodland, oak scrub,
and openings of ponderosa pine and spruce-aspen
forest from 2200 to 3200 m in elevation.
Soil:
Though this penstemon tolerates heavy soils and moisture better than most members of the genus, it prefers dry, light, well-drained soils.
Care Recommendations
Maintenance Level:
Low
Fertilizer:
Requires no fertilizer
Mulch:
Pea gravel, crushed rock, coarse sand
Reduce watering once established, leave old flower stalks over winter then cut back, deadhead but leave a few stalks for self seeding, divide early spring, avoid heavy fertilizing, give light top dressing of organic fertilizer in fall, mulch
Long Term:
Winter:
Leave some stems for frost protection and mulch with straw in winter, if necessary.
Spring:
Pruning is not necessary, but can be cut back in early spring.
Summer:
Deadheading will encourage reblooming and more vigorous growth.
Fall:
Reduce watering, leave basal foliage and stems intact, clear fallen leaves and debris, apply light top dressing of low nitrogen fertilizer, if desired can sow seeds directly into ground
General Care Comments:
Do not over irrigate. Penstemon are low maintenance. The main requirement for success is that they need to be planted in well-drained soil, they do not like to have wet feet or crowns. They do best in lean soil without any additional amendments.
Common Problems
Flopping stems, leaf scorch, bud blight
Diseases:
Disease problems are minimal except under irrigation. Under irrigation, fusarium wilt can be a problem. https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-and-disease-descriptions?title=Penstemon-Root+Rot
Insects:
Grasshoppers, flea beetles, spider mites, seed bugs
Environmental Problems:
Pests:
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