Penstemon spp. (Bedding Penstemons)


Penstemons (also called beardtongues) are the largest genus of flowering plants native to North America and come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. They typically bloom from early summer to late fall and are an excellent way to attract hummingbirds and other pollinators to your garden. Deer resistant. Hardy to 5 F and below. Perennial.


Requirements: Full sun and well-draining soil


Care: Old stems provide winter protection to new growth so it is best to prune them in the spring after severe winter weather has passed. Additionally, adding gravel around their crown can improve drainage and prevent crown rot. 


Listed below are mostly garden penstemons of hybrid origin that were bred specifically for long, showy blooms and adaptability into traditional Western gardens; for species native to Oregon click here. 

'Coral Kissed'


The second introduction from Joy Creek Nursery's 'Kissed Series'. Large, pure white-flowers with pure white throats and a fringe of coral pink on the lips.  Blooms from summer to first frost.


Height: to 3 ft.    Spread: to 3 ft. 

'Enor'


A favorite of many, Enor, has glossy dark green foliage and a sturdy, upright growth habit. A very long bloomer of tubular purple flowers. from summer to first frost. Ours has even bloomed for us during several snow events.    


Height: to 3 ft.    Spread: to 3 ft.

'Evelyn'


An exceptionally cold hardy penstemon with an award of garden merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. It has very neat, narrow foliage and blooms tubular pink flowers from summer to first frost.


Height: to 18 in.    Spread: to 18 in.

'Firebird'


Also known as 'Shoenholzeri,' a 1939 cross of P. 'Garnet' and P. 'Southgate Gem'  selected for longevity and sturdy stems. Attractive narrow green foliage and long-blooming tubular red flowers from summer to first frost.


Height: to 3 ft.    Spread: to 2 ft.

'Flamingo'


Compact growth and long spikes of large pink flowers with streaked white throats. An especially long bloomer from summer to first frost.


Height: to 3 ft.    Spread: to 18 in.

'Garnet'


One of the hardiest of our garden penstemons. Narrow foliage and blooms of tubular red flowers from summer to first frost. Originally known as Penstemon 'Andenken an Friedrich Hahn.' 


Height: to 30 in.    Spread: to 30 in.

'Ghent Purple'


Low-growing and best grown in the front of a border or garden bed. Very long blooms of small, tubular purple flowers from summer until first frost.


Height: to 18 in.    Spread: to 3 ft.

'Midnight'


An especially long-lived cultivar with narrow dark green foliage and a compact growth habit. Blooms dark purple flowers from summer until first frost. 


Height: to 30 in.    Spread: to 18 in.

'Pershore Pink Necklace'


Large pink flowers with white throats and a distinct band of white along the bottom lip that forms a 'necklace' pattern. Blooms from summer until fall.


Height: to 3 ft.    Spread: to 3 ft.

'Purple Bedder'


Blooms trumpet-like purple flowers with maroon throats from summer to first frost. Said to have a high nectar and pollen yield making them especially superb for hummingbirds and other pollinators.


Height: to 30 in.    Spread: to 18 in.

'Raven'


An especially vigorous cultivar with dark green foliage and long blooms of tubular dark purple-red flowers with streaked white throats from summer until first frost. A recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.


Height: to 3 ft.    Spread: to 3 ft.

'Red Trumpet'


One of our favorites with strong, upright stems and unbelievable long-blooming 'trumpet-like' red flowers from summer into winter. Ours has bloomed through multiple snow events.


Height: to 2 ft.    Spread: to 2 ft.

'Thorn'


A long-lived cultivar with attractive dark green foliage and tubular white flowers with rose-red lips that fade to pink as flowers open. Blooms from summer to first frost.


Height: to 3 ft.    Spread: to 3 ft.

'Violet Kissed'


The first introduction of Joy Creek Nursery's 'Kissed Series.' Blooms large purple-violet flowers with pure white throats from summer to first frost. 


Height: to 2 ft.    Spread: to 15 in.

'Wine Kissed'


The fourth introduction of Joy Creek Nursery's 'Kissed Series.' Blooms large, seductive wine-red flowers with pure white throats from summer to first frost.


Height: to 2 ft.    Spread: to 15 in.

Penstemon heterophyllus 'Electric Blue'


A selected form of a California native that stays quite small and requires very little water once established. Blooms of "electric blue" flowers begin in late spring (much earlier than most of the hybrid garden penstemon) and end around midsummer.


Height: to 18 in.    Spread: to 1 ft.

Penstemon kunthii


An impressively hardy species native to Southern Mexico. Strong stems with very fine foliage grow in an arching habit and produce long and profuse blooms of tubular red flowers from summer until first frost.


Height: to 2 ft.    Spread: to 2 ft.

Additional resources:


Other penstemons in our collection that we occasionally grow are as follows:


Penstemon 'Blackbird'

Penstemon 'Catherine de la Mare'

Penstemon 'Cherry Glow'

Penstemon 'Elfin Pink'

Penstemon 'Elizabeth Cozzens'

Penstemon 'Garden Star'

Penstemon 'Geoff Hamilton'

Penstemon 'Gilchrist'

Penstemon 'Joy'

Penstemon 'King George'

Penstemon 'Margarita BOP'

Penstemon 'Mersea Yellow'

Penstemon 'Mother of Pearl'

Penstemon 'Papal Purple'

Penstemon 'Purple Giant

Penstemon 'Purple Passion'

Penstemon 'Purple Tiger'

Penstemon 'Raspberry Flair'

Penstemon 'Red Hot Kissed'

Penstemon 'Sutton's Pink Bedder'

Penstemon 'Wisley Pink'