Penstemon
Penstemon · Native to North America
Tall spikes of tubular bell-flowers that hummingbirds love — a tough, sun-loving native perfect for water-wise gardens.
Available in garden-ready pots
💧 Drought-tolerant
🪴 Well-draining soil
🐾 Pet-safe
Care
Light
Penstemon wants full sun and good air movement. Bright light keeps the flower spikes strong and upright.
Water
Water when the soil is dry; once established, penstemon is notably drought-tolerant and prefers lean, sharply drained conditions to rich, wet ones.
Soil & Feeding
Grow in well-draining soil and go easy on fertilizer — too much encourages floppy growth at the expense of flowers.
Quick Tip
Snip off finished flower spikes to encourage more, and you’ll keep the hummingbirds coming back all season.
Details
Penstemon, or beardtongue, sends up slender spikes lined with tubular, bell-shaped flowers in pink, purple, red, blue, and white — irresistible to hummingbirds.
- ✅ A magnet for hummingbirds and pollinators
- ✅ Tough, drought-tolerant North American native
- ✅ Upright spikes that add height to beds and pots
Size
Available in convenient, garden-ready pots — easy to plant into sunny, well-drained beds, borders, or water-wise containers.
Good to Know
🐾 Penstemon is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs — a pet-friendly, pollinator-packed choice for sunny gardens.
Plant Bio
Penstemon · the hummingbird-loving Beardtongue
Penstemon, often called beardtongue, is a largely North American group of plants — many native to the western states — grown for their tall, graceful spikes of tubular flowers.
Those bell-shaped blooms, in pink, purple, red, blue, and white, are perfectly shaped for hummingbirds and native bees, making penstemon one of the best pollinator plants for a sunny, water-wise garden.
It’s tough and drought-tolerant, thriving in lean, well-drained soil where pampered plants would flop — a natural fit for New Mexico gardens.
What makes it special?
- One of the very best hummingbird plants.
- A tough, drought-tolerant native that loves lean soil.
- Tall spikes that bring vertical color to beds and pots.
🐾 Penstemon is non-toxic to cats and dogs — a safe, pollinator-friendly choice.