Penstemon

Penstemon "Electric Blue"
Penstemon x mexacali

zones 6-9

western US native

prefers hot sunny locations

aka Beardtongue

1-3' tall

good for cut flowers

attracts hummingbirds

tolerates dry soil

doesn't like to be crowded

apply compost thinly each spring and 2" mulch to retain moisture and control weeds

purchased at Garden Fever Summer 2011

needs 1" water per week

after frost, cut stems down to 1-2" above the ground

dig up and divide rhizomes every 3-5 years

prone to root rot in the winter

New ones are easily started from cuttings taken in autumn, rooted indoors, & put out in spring to supplant exhausted clumps. Although they may self-seed to remain in the garden without attention, seedlings do not ordinarily grow to be exactly like the parent plant