BRIDGES PENSTEMON

Penstemon rostriflorus

Figwort Family (Scrophulariaceae)

The latest-flowering of our red penstemons, Bridges penstemon brightens up the garden from middle through late summer. It is an open, airy plant that needs some room to look its best. It features sprays of large, scarlet blossoms that hang down along the branches. These nectar-rich flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds. Its leaves are narrowly strap shaped and are a rich, dark green. Most of the leaves are clustered at the base of the plant. Bridges penstemon is longer-lived and less picky about growing conditions than many of its relatives. It is quite drought-hardy but can handle some summer water. In nature, it is a plant of rocky slopes in the foothills and canyons throughout the southern half of our region. It can handle a surprising amount of competition, however, and has performed well in foothill meadow and sagebrush steppe plantings. It combines well with summer flowers like Indian blanket and Lewis flax as well as grasses and other robust, late-flowering penstemons such as littlecup penstemon.