Kidnocker: Penstemon in bloom means it’s spring

All over the area riding high above their plants, are stalks of bright rosey pink and red flowers. The individual blossoms are somewhat small, but often cover the stems from top to bottom. Penstemon are short-lived perennials that self-seed easily, and may show up in often unexpected places.

Also called “beard tongue,” there are over 500 penstemon species in the Figwort family. Related to the snapdragon, they produce flowers along a spike which rises above a rosette of leaves near the ground. Blossoms open from the bottom of the stalk upward.

Perhaps because of our recent long warm autumn and mild winter, this year penstemon seem to be blooming more profusely than usual. Also the tall flower stalks appear to be stronger because even in the spring winds, they are remaining erect.

Scattered throughout the Arid Garden, all of the pink-flowered penstemon (Penstemon parryi) are volunteers that began popping up during the winter.

Not always sure what they were, the gardeners took a “wait and see what we have here” attitude. All winter the seedlings grew slowly and began pushing up their 3-foot flower spikes in the past few weeks. Some gardeners treat the parryi as an annual wildflower, planting seed in the autumn. It is one of the most reliable in our area for spring bloom.

Another local “hot spot” for penstemon is along Camino Encanto beside the eastern driveway into the Green Valley Fire Department property. Here there is a healthy stand of stunning red-flowered firecracker penstemon (P. eatonii)… most appropriate for the location!

Arizona native Palmer’s penstemon (P. palmeri) is spectacular with its 5-foot tall stalks of fragrant, pale pink flowers. It is frequently seen growing wildly throughout the desert and along roadsides.

Not all penstemon flower in spring. A summer-blooming variety called rock penstemon (P. baccharifolius) has slender red flowers carried above deeply-serrated leaves. These can be seen later in the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum gardens.

Where there are penstemon, there are hummingbirds. The brightly colored tubular flowers are magnets for hummers and bees. Later, tiny yellow finches will stand sideways on the edge of flower stalks and reach far out to pluck the seeds.

Penstemon can be planted in spring or fall in full sun or filtered shade. A perfect spot is under a tree with sparse foliage, such as palo verde, mesquite, or acacia. Good drainage is more important than the type of soil. A deep soaking every 10 to 14 days in the warm season should suffice for watering.

Rely on rainfall for winter water. Excessive irrigation or poorly drained soil can cause lanky, weak growth. Soft, floppy flower stalks can also be a sign of overwatering or too much shade.

Penstemon are not susceptible to pests or disease. If you must fertilize, keep it light. Too much fertilizer can cause excessive foliage and decreased flowering.

After blooming, flower stalks can be clipped back to the foliage. Before tossing aside, collect the ripe seed which looks much like ground pepper. You may also simply shake the spent flowers onto the ground and let nature handle it from there.

Penstemon start to look tired after a few years. Simply remove the old plants if this occurs, because new volunteers will take their place… though it may be a surprise where. These plants add drama to the landscape wherever planted, but somehow seem most special when appearing where they were not planted!

Mary Kidnocker is a Master Gardener who writes frequently about the subject from a local perspective. Her columns are featured each Sunday.