Hollinshead Water-wise Garden Plants

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Photo:

Jan Even

Rocky Mountain Penstemon

Rocky Mountain Beardtongue

Strict Beardtongue

Latin Name:

Penstemon strictus

Excellent perennial for a dry garden. Great specimen plant.

Taxon ID#

68 MAINTENANCE

Maintenance Level:

Low

Min. USDA Hardiness Zone:

4 Sun Preference:

Full Sun

Water Preference:

L

Soil Preference:

Though this penstemon tolerates heavy soils and moisture better than most members of the genus, it prefers dry, light, well-drained soils.

Fertilizer Needs:

Recommended Mulch:

Family:

Scrophulariaceae

Origins:

Plant Type:

Herbaceous Plant, Perennial

Southern WY to northern NM & northeastern AZ

Oregon native:

no

Western state native:

yes

PLANT DESCRIPTION

Foliage Color:

Green

Foliage Description:

Low mats of foliage with paired leaves that range from narrow and grass-like to broad and lance-shaped

Fragrant:

no

Predominant flower color:

Purple

Flower Description:

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.

Fall color:

no

Fall Color Description:

Winter Foliage:

Evergreen

Winter Interest:

no

Winter Interest Description:

Mature height:

2-3'

Mature spread:

3'

Growth rate:

Medium

LANDSCAPE APPLICATION

Deer Resistant:

no

Fire Resistant:

yes

Attracts Pollinators:

yes

Attracts Butterflies:

yes

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.

Attracts Birds:

yes

Cut/Dried Flowers:

yes

Photo:

Pat Kolling

Used by Wildlife:

yes

Hedge/Screen:

no

Swales:

no

Wildlife Use:

Penstemons are considered desirable forage
for deer, antelope, and birds either as herbage or seed. They may also provide some cover for selected
small bird species.

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:

May

Last Bloom:

Jun

Ornamental Accent:

yes

Garden Observations:

SEASONAL CARE

Spring Care:

Pruning is not necessary, but can be cut back in early spring.

Summer Care:

Deadheading will encourage reblooming and more vigorous growth.

Fall Care:

Winter Care:

Leave some stems for frost protection and mulch with straw in winter, if necessary.

Long Term Care:

Insect Pests:

Wildlife Pests:

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

Environmental Problems:

Landscape Problems:

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.

RESOURCES

OSU Landscape Profile:

USDA Plants:

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PEST2

Calscape Database:

LBJ Native Plant Database:

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PEST2

Missouri Botanical Garden Database:

Monrovia Profile:

Alternate Source 1:

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

Alternate Source 2:

Source Comment:

Hollinshead Water-wise Garden Plants

Photo:

Jan Even

Rocky Mountain Penstemon

Rocky Mountain Beardtongue

Strict Beardtongue

Latin Name:

Taxon ID#

68

MAINTENANCE

Low

Min. USDA Hardiness Zone:

4

Sun Preference:

Full Sun

Water Preference:

L

Soil Preference:

Though this penstemon tolerates heavy soils and moisture better than most members of the genus, it prefers dry, light, well-drained soils.

Fertilizer Needs:

​

Recommended Mulch:

​

Family:

Origins:

Plant Type:

Herbaceous Plant, Perennial

Southern WY to northern NM & northeastern AZ

Oregon native:

no

Western state native:

yes

PLANT DESCRIPTION

Foliage Color:

Green

Foliage Description:

Low mats of foliage with paired leaves that range from narrow and grass-like to broad and lance-shaped

Fragrant:

no

Predominant flower color:

Purple

Flower Description:

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.

Fall color:

no

Fall Color Description:

​

Winter Foliage:

Evergreen

Winter Interest:

no

Winter Interest Description:

​

Mature height:

2-3'

Mature spread:

3'

Growth rate:

Medium

LANDSCAPE APPLICATION

Deer Resistant:

no

Fire Resistant:

yes

Attracts Pollinators:

yes

Attracts Butterflies:

yes

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.

Attracts Birds:

yes

Cut/Dried Flowers:

yes

Photo:

Pat Kolling

Used by Wildlife:

yes

Hedge/Screen:

no

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.

Penstemons are considered desirable forage
for deer, antelope, and birds either as herbage or seed. They may also provide some cover for selected
small bird species.