Scarlet Penstemon

Penstemon barbatus subsp. coccineus 'Scarlet'

Plant Details:

Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Family: Scrophulariaceae
Plant Description: This is penstemon is native to Utah and thrives in poor soil conditions. It is a clump-forming perennial with reddish-orange, two-lipped, tubular shaped flowers atop rigid stems blooming from late spring well into summer. The narrow, lance-shaped leaves resemble willow leaves. It likes inorganic mulch rather than compost.

Maintenance:

Maintenance Type: Perennial - Herbaceous
Plant Care: Perennial - Herbaceous (soft-stemmed plants that die back in winter and regrow in spring): Remove spent blooms to promote rebloom later. Some plants tend to flop over after the first bloom and attempt to regrow from the base; in these cases, the old stems can be cut away in summer. As plants become dormant in the fall, remove dead leaves and stems.

Plant Attributes:

Mature Size: 12-24" tall x 12-18" wide
Utah Native: Yes
Plant Select: No
Pollinator Friendly: Yes
Localscapes: Infill Plant
Foliage Interest: No
Foliage Colors: Green
Bloom Colors: Red, Orange
Bloom Seasons: Late Spring
Bloom Period: May - Jul

Growing Conditions:

Hardiness Zone: 4 to 9
Light Requirement: Full Sun (6+ hrs sun), Part Shade (4-6 hrs morning sun), Part Sun (4-6 hrs afternoon sun)
Irrigation Requirement:     Low (1/2" every 10-14 days)
Salt Tolerant: Unknown
Deer Resistant: Unknown

Garden Location:

  • Localscapes Path
    • Paths and Pollinators
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Fall
  • Winter