Penstemon richardsonii

Common Names

Richardson's Penstemon, Richardson's Beardtongue

Summary

Sources describe Richardson's Penstemon as a subshrub native to the Pacific Northwest, with ascending to erect stems about 20–95 cm tall and retrorsely hairy foliage forming dense, shrub-like mounds; leaves are opposite or subopposite, lanceolate to ovate with laciniate-dentate margins, and its inflorescence bears bluish to lavender or pinkish flowers with reddish-purple nectar guides, a corolla 15–32 mm long with a 7–12 mm tube, externally glandular-pubescent and with a long style and exserted stamens along with a long exserted staminode, blooming in dry, rocky places such as cliff crevices at low to moderate elevations and serving as a nectar source for pollinators including hummingbirds and bees.

Sources note cultivation requirements of full sun to partial shade on well-drained sandy or rocky soil, with a USDA zone range of 5a–10b and planting spacing of 12–18 inches; water deeply after planting and continue regular watering until established while avoiding overwatering, fertilize once in early spring with a low-nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer, and prune in late winter or early spring; it is drought-tolerant and highly attractive to pollinators, with propagation by seeds, cuttings, or division, and generally pest-resistant though watch for spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs, while deer, rabbits, and squirrels may browse; ethnobotanical uses include medicinal applications by the Okanagan-Coville and Paiute peoples.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

0.5-3 feet

Spread

12-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5a-10b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun (6–8 hours direct sunlight daily), tolerates partial sun or partial shade.

Soil Type

Dry, rocky, well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

6.0-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

Pink and purple

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Dusty green, sometimes reddish

Fall Foliage Color

Bright Red

Leaf Lifecycle

Other

Growth Rate

Moderate growth rate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, and Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds