Rocky Mountain Penstemon

Also known as Rocky Mountain Beardtongue, Rocky Mountain Penstemon is native to the southern Rockies, from southern Wyoming down to northern New Mexico and Arizona.  It occurs at a range of altitudes, from 6,000 foot sagebrush foothills to the subalpine spruce-fir forests at 11,000 feet.   The ‘Bandera’ variety of Rocky Mountain Penstemon available here at Southwest Seed is one of only two released penstemon varieties considered to have some forage value for livestock.  Penstemons in general are desirable forage for wildlife, including deer and antelope.  Wild birds make use of the seeds.  As a component of reclamation mixes, Rocky Mountain Penstemon helps provide both erosion control and beautification.

Rocky Mountain Penstemon serves well in ornamental plantings, because both the flowers and the leaves add interest.   It is one of the longest-lived, most easily grown of the Penstemons.   The blue to violet flowers with a lighter throat are abundant and beautiful on 24-inch high stems, and the shiny lower leaves form a basal rosette with some leaves turning reddish purple in winter.  Seeds should be planted 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep in a firm seedbed.  Although Rocky Mountain Penstemon does best in a sunny location with well drained soil, it will tolerate a range of soil textures and pH values as well as partial shade.  It may take until the second season for the plants to reach mature height of 24 inches, and the basal diameter of mature plants is about 20 inches.  Both the height and the width of each plant can be increased with intensive management in the garden.    Plants will spread steadily via stolons to form large clumps.  Removing the stalk after flowering ensures flowers the following year; a few can be left if natural reseeding is desired.