Penstemon strictiformis

A perennial native wildflower from the arid four corners area of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. Mancos Penstemon is frequently confused with Rocky Mountain Penstemon (Penstemon strictis) due to overlap in visible traits in some populations. Many penstemons cross readily with a number of other species including Penstemon strictis and Penstemon strictiformis.

This is a great low-water pollinator plant, with vivid purple to blue flowers that are attractive to diverse native bees, flies, wasps, bumblebees, and European honeybees.

This plant forms slowly spreading clumps of emerald evergreen leaves that take on russet to purple tones in cold conditions during the fall and winter. They can give a lush look to low-water gardens.

These plants form beautiful 1 to 3 feet tall spikes of blue to purple tubular flowers for weeks in mid-spring to mid-summer. Bloom time is generally a few weeks but length is dependent on conditions. Provided adequate sunshine, cooler and or wetter conditions will support a longer bloom, and the stress of hotter and or drier conditions can shorter the bloom.

Plant in sun to light shade and avoiding dense plantings. Penstemons or beardtongues generally prefer drier conditions, good soil drainage and lower nutrients. They will live longer in these conditions because, they have a tendency to ‘bloom themselves to death’ with nutrient rich soils and regular moderate water. They will generally rot and die with excessive moisture so proper siting and soil that is drier or drains water more quickly are important.

Sow directly into outdoor/unheated greenhouse planting beds, pots or flats in late autumn through early spring for the seeds to receive cold stratification so that they will sprout. For direct sowing prepare soil by moving aside any thick mulch and roughing up the surface of your soil for direct contact.

Packet: 400 seeds