Hot Rock Penstemon
Penstemon deustus
(also known as Beardtongue)
zones 3-6
50 seeds
Hot Rock Penstemon is native to all northwestern states, California, and Nevada. In the large genus of penstemon, only this species has white flowers. Stems grow erect in clusters from a woody base. Leaves are long, lance-shaped, toothed, and get smaller in size as they go up the stem. Hot Rock Penstemon flowers from May-July. Flowers are white or creamy with fine purplish beelines in the throat. Grows in dry rocky places, basalt cliffs, other volcanic soils, mostly at mid-elevations.
Penstemon has many uses as a medicinal herb, and makes an excellent cut flower due to its erect form.
The small seeds should first be mixed with sand, then sown onto flats. Sink the flat into the ground in an area that offers shade, preferably close to a wall that faces north. Provide a glass or plastic covering. Keep soil moist. Seeds take from 1-6 months to germinate. After 2 years, transplant the seedlings to their final location in autumn.
Alternatively, you may stratify the seeds in a lightly covered pot of moist perlite and vermiculite outdoors in winter, or in a sandwich bag in the refrigerator for 5-6 weeks before planting them in flats or individual pots.
Penstemon deustus
(also known as Beardtongue)
zones 3-6
50 seeds
Hot Rock Penstemon is native to all northwestern states, California, and Nevada. In the large genus of penstemon, only this species has white flowers. Stems grow erect in clusters from a woody base. Leaves are long, lance-shaped, toothed, and get smaller in size as they go up the stem. Hot Rock Penstemon flowers from May-July. Flowers are white or creamy with fine purplish beelines in the throat. Grows in dry rocky places, basalt cliffs, other volcanic soils, mostly at mid-elevations.
Penstemon has many uses as a medicinal herb, and makes an excellent cut flower due to its erect form.
The small seeds should first be mixed with sand, then sown onto flats. Sink the flat into the ground in an area that offers shade, preferably close to a wall that faces north. Provide a glass or plastic covering. Keep soil moist. Seeds take from 1-6 months to germinate. After 2 years, transplant the seedlings to their final location in autumn.
Alternatively, you may stratify the seeds in a lightly covered pot of moist perlite and vermiculite outdoors in winter, or in a sandwich bag in the refrigerator for 5-6 weeks before planting them in flats or individual pots.
Penstemon deustus
(also known as Beardtongue)
zones 3-6
50 seeds
Hot Rock Penstemon is native to all northwestern states, California, and Nevada. In the large genus of penstemon, only this species has white flowers. Stems grow erect in clusters from a woody base. Leaves are long, lance-shaped, toothed, and get smaller in size as they go up the stem. Hot Rock Penstemon flowers from May-July. Flowers are white or creamy with fine purplish beelines in the throat. Grows in dry rocky places, basalt cliffs, other volcanic soils, mostly at mid-elevations.
Penstemon has many uses as a medicinal herb, and makes an excellent cut flower due to its erect form.
The small seeds should first be mixed with sand, then sown onto flats. Sink the flat into the ground in an area that offers shade, preferably close to a wall that faces north. Provide a glass or plastic covering. Keep soil moist. Seeds take from 1-6 months to germinate. After 2 years, transplant the seedlings to their final location in autumn.
Alternatively, you may stratify the seeds in a lightly covered pot of moist perlite and vermiculite outdoors in winter, or in a sandwich bag in the refrigerator for 5-6 weeks before planting them in flats or individual pots.