Cardinal Penstemon

Penstemon cardinalis

Plant Details:

Plant Type: Perennial

Plant Family: Scrophulariaceae

Plant Description: Herbaceous perennial with upright stems native to Texas and New Mexico. Lance-shaped green leaves are well-adapted to its native habitat. Dark red flowers grow on upright stems throughout the summer. Grows naturally in rocky and hot sites. Seldom used but is available for residential use.

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.

Video: Cutting Down Herbaceous Perennials - Spring Cleanup

Plant Attributes:

Mature Size: 3' tall x 2' wide

Utah Native: No

Nativar: No

Plant Select: Unknown

Pollinator Friendly: Yes

Localscapes: Infill Plant

Evergreen: No

Foliage Interest: No

Foliage Colors: Green

Bloom Colors: Red

Bloom Seasons: Summer

Bloom Period: Jun - Jul

Erosion Control: Yes

Ground Cover: No

Foodscape: No

Growing Conditions:

Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9

Light Requirement: Full Sun (6+ hrs sun)

Irrigation Requirement:

Very Low (Water to Establish)

Salt Tolerant: Unknown

Deer Tolerant: Yes

Garden Location:

Design Path
- Easy Does It
Neighborhood Landscapes
- A Desert with Altitude

Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter