Hollinshead Water-wise Garden Plants

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Photo:

Pat Kolling

Pineneedle Beardtongue

Pineneedle Penstemon

Pineleaf Beardtongue

Latin Name:

Penstemon pinifolius

A phenomenal display of bright-red/orange tubular flowers held over attractive, evergreen pine needle-like foliage.

Taxon ID#

66 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.

Family:

Scrophulariaceae

Origins:

Plant Type:

Herbaceous Plant, Perennial

Southern New Mexico and eastern Arizona.

Oregon native:

no

Western state native:

yes

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

Photo:

Kathy Ketchum

Used by Wildlife:

no

Hedge/Screen:

no

Swales:

no

Wildlife Use:

Border:

yes

Erosion Control:

yes

Windbreak:

no

Cover Structures:

no

Ground Cover:

no

Provides Shade:

no

Rock Garden:

yes

Adds Texture/Movement:

no

First Bloom:

Jul

Last Bloom:

Sep

Ornamental Accent:

yes

Garden Observations:

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:

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PEPI3

Calscape Database:

LBJ Native Plant Database:

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PEPI3

Missouri Botanical Garden Database:

Monrovia Profile:

https://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/5935/pineleaf-beardtongue/

Alternate Source 1:

https://www.highcountrygardens.com/perennial-plants/penstemon/penstemon-pinifolius

Alternate Source 2:

Source Comment:

Hollinshead Water-wise Garden Plants

Photo:

Pat Kolling

Pineneedle Beardtongue

Pineneedle Penstemon

Pineleaf Beardtongue

Latin Name:

Taxon ID#

66

MAINTENANCE

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.

Family:

Origins:

Plant Type:

Herbaceous Plant, Perennial

Southern New Mexico and eastern Arizona.

Oregon native:

no

Western state native:

yes

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

Photo:

Kathy Ketchum

Used by Wildlife:

no

Hedge/Screen:

no