When it comes time to plant a flower garden or landscape the bare spot in front of your home, I recommend including at least a few low-maintenance native plants. And while you can choose between thousands of species, I encourage you to push penstemon plants to the top of your list.
These hardy perennials can tolerate drought and neglect, but their colorful, delicate flowers make it look like you’ve spent months babying them. They also bloom over multiple months and come in various heights and colors.
Since there are hundreds of species and even more varieties, it can be difficult to determine which ones to plant. I’ll introduce you to 21 of my favorites so you can narrow down your options.
1. Appalachian Beardtongue
This plant thrives best in part shade environments like forest edges.
| botanical name Penstemon canescens | |
 | sun requirements Partial shade |
 | height 16-30” |
 | hardiness zones 5-8 |
Also known as eastern gray penstemon, this plant originated in the Mid-Atlantic, South, and Midwest. It’s a delicate-looking species with thin stems rising to support multiple broad, tubular flowers. The flowers range from white to light pink to purple, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies.
This species prefers partial shade over full sun, so it excels in forest edges and on the north or east sides of houses. You can also place it on the north edge of larger native wildflowers and shrubs like azaleas and salvia.
2. Brazos
Due to its moisture tolerance, Gulf Coast penstemon is ideal for planting in wet areas.
 | botanical name Penstemon tenuis |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial shade |
| | height 20-24” |
| | hardiness zones 4-8 |
Also known as the Gulf Coast or sharp sepal penstemon, this species calls the coasts and riverbanks of the Gulf Coast home. While most penstemon plants require well-draining soil to thrive, this type can tolerate moist and poorly-draining conditions. Therefore, it’s the best penstemon to plant in wet areas.
Brazos sends up thin stems coated with oppositely arranged, deep green lanceolate leaves. The tops of the stems produce clusters of purple bell-shaped flowers. These flowers bloom from spring through early summer and attract hummingbirds.
3. Broadleaf
The broadleaf penstemon thrives in shady Pacific Northwest areas, tolerating moist soils well.
| | botanical name Penstemon ovatus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial shade |
| | height 20-24” |
| | hardiness zones 4-8 |
Native to shady areas in the Pacific Northwest, the broadleaf penstemon can tolerate moist soils better than many other species. This is an excellent choice if you wish to plant a penstemon in a moist forest edge or garden. Even though it’s native to the PNW, Southeast United States gardeners have also grown it successfully.
The flowers look similar to lungwort blooms but are slightly more elongated. The blooms emerge in the spring as dark periwinkle flowers and fade to purple and light pink as the season progresses. You can expect the flowers to stick around for four to six weeks.
4. Eastern Smooth Beardtongue
Native to the eastern United States, this penstemon thrives in moist environments.
| | botanical name Penstemon laevigatus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 24-36” |
| | hardiness zones 6-8 |
Also known as smooth beardtongue or eastern beardtongue, this penstemon is native to much of the eastern United States. Since it’s native to moist forests and meadows, it can tolerate wetter soils than many other species. It’s happy in mixed plantings with other plants that like moderate moisture.
The plants produce deep green, lanceolate leaves throughout the spring and fall. Light pink or purple tubular flowers appear in the late spring and remain until midsummer. The flowers have a pronounced line of yellow hairs down the middle, fitting the common name beardtongue.
5. Firecracker
Plant firecracker penstemon seeds in late fall or early winter to allow them exposure to cold temperatures.
| | botanical name Penstemon eatonii |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 24-36” |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
Boom! The firecracker penstemon explodes from the garden with bright red flowers that shoot out from tall stems. These skinny, tubular blooms provide a stunning addition to the muted green colors of desert plants like sagebrush, cacti, and agave.
Firecracker penstemon is native to the southwest United States, where it sends a burst of red out from mesas, open fields, and rocky cliffs. Since it grows in this harsh environment, it can tolerate hot summers and cold winters. Just make sure to avoid planting it in an area with moist soil.
Directly sowing the seeds in the late fall or early winter allows them the cold exposure they need to germinate. When the seedlings emerge the following spring, you can thin them to your desired spacing or transplant them to new areas.
A tall species, foothill penstemon features tubular blue, pink, and purple flowers.
| | botanical name Penstemon heterophyllus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 36-60” |
| | hardiness zones 7-10 |
One of the taller species, the foothill penstemon makes a great addition to mixed perennial plantings and serves as an excellent backdrop for shorter plants. The green leaves remain under three feet tall, but the plant’s slender flower stalks can rise to five feet. Tubular flowers cover the stalk and appear in shades of blue, pink, and purple.
Foothill is native to California, where it grows in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It will thrive in environments that resemble its native range, including well-draining meadows and forest edges.
7. Murray’s Scarlet
This stands out with its unique, rounded leaves compared to other penstemon species.
| | botanical name Penstemon murrayanus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 60-72” |
| | hardiness zones 5-9 |
While many species have oppositely arranged thin, lanceolate leaves, Murray’s Scarlet shakes things up. This species has large, rounded leaves with stems running through their centers. The stems are also thicker than those of most other species.
Murray’s Scarlet originated in southern states, including Louisiana and Arkansas. When planted in these warm climates, it often remains evergreen. You can also grow it in areas with colder winters, but expect the plants to die back in the fall and regrow the following spring.
No matter where you live, plant this penstemon in an area with excellent drainage and low organic matter. It will produce gorgeous trumpet-shaped flowers that flare out on the ends if it’s in a suitable environment.
8. New Mexico
Native to New Mexico, this penstemon species thrives in harsh high desert environments.
| | botanical name Penstemon neomexicanus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 18-24” |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
As its name suggests, this species is native to New Mexico. Although its native range is small, it’s well suited to survive the harsh environments found in high deserts. If you’re growing it at home, consider planting it in rock gardens or rocky soil.
The New Mexico penstemon sends out deep purple flowers throughout the summer. The tubular flowers are popular with hummingbirds, so watch for these tiny winged critters!
9. ‘Boysenberry Taffy’
Growing ’Boysenberry Taffy’ in colder regions is possible with winter protection.
| | botanical name Penstemon ’Boysenberry Taffy’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 24-36” |
| | hardiness zones 7-9 |
Gardeners love this hybrid due to its long-blooming and simply stunning flowers. The plants bloom in early summer, churning out eye-catching flowers into mid to late fall. Deep magenta flowers are tubular, and their wide openings allow even the fattest bumblebees to enter and collect pollen. Plus, they’re popular with hummingbirds, butterflies, and wasps.
‘Boysenberry Taffy’ is best suited to warmer regions since it has difficulty surviving winter temperatures below 0°F. However, you can grow it in colder regions as an annual or use frost cloth and/or mulch to protect it during the winter.
10.‘Husker Red’
This variety is known for its maroon stems and green leaves.
| | botanical name Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 28-36” |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
While you may think ‘Husker Red’ produces crimson flowers, the cultivar name refers to the plants’ deep maroon stems. These stems display lanceolate leaves that appear dark green with hints of burgundy. The combination of red stems and green leaves is reason enough to add this plant to your garden, but the white flowers push the plant to another level.
Like most types, ‘Husker Red’ features open, tubular flowers. However, this variety’s flowers are larger than others, making them a popular filler for cut flower arrangements.
‘Husker Red’ was first bred by Dale Lindgren at the University of Nebraska. He chose the cultivar’s name to give an ode to the university’s mascot, the Cornhusker. Soon after its introduction, the plant won the Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year award in 1996. Since then, it’s remained a popular addition to gardens nationwide.
11. ‘Bredon’
These don’t produce consistent seeds but can be propagated through division.
| | botanical name Penstemon ‘Bredon’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 24-36” |
| | hardiness zones 5-9 |
This hybrid was first bred at Pershore College in England. It produces stunning large pink flowers with deep pink and white throats that guide pollinators to their nectar. Since ‘Bredon’ blooms from mid-summer to mid-fall, you can watch pollinators flock to the plants over multiple months. While deadheading spent blooms isn’t necessary, it will encourage the plants to produce new flowers.
Since this is a hybrid variety, seeds won’t breed true. However, you can propagate ‘Bredon’ plants by either division or vegetative cuttings. Divide mature plants in the late winter or early spring and root vegetative cuttings in the spring through fall.
12. ‘Dazzler Blend’
A compact dwarf penstemon, this tubular-flowering plant adds charm to small gardens.
| | botanical name Penstemon barbartus ‘Dazzler Blend’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 12” |
| | hardiness zones 4-8 |
This dwarf variety remains about a foot tall, making it a great addition to small gardens and the front of mixed plantings. The plants produce tubular flowers in the spring and summer so that you can enjoy the blooms for multiple months. Flowers range in color from pink to purple to blue.
‘Dazzler Blend’ plants can tolerate moderate drought but thrive in soils with average moisture. And since they require little maintenance, they’re a great option for even the laziest gardeners.
13. ‘Electric Blue’
Plant ‘Electric Blue’ penstemon in well-draining, nutrient-poor soil to prevent tender growth.
| | botanical name Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Electric Blue’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 12-18” |
| | hardiness zones 5-9 |
A specific cultivar of the foothills penstemon, ‘Electric Blue’ is a short plant with bright blue flowers. It blooms in the late spring for a few weeks and keeps its green foliage throughout the warmer months.
To keep this plant happy, plant it in well-draining, nutrient-poor soil. Not only will this help keep the plants from developing tender growth, but it will also increase the lifespan of individual plants. To propagate new plants, duplicate the plants by stem cuttings or division.
14. ‘Dakota Burgundy’
This species boasts deep purple foliage persisting from spring to frost.
| | botanical name Penstemon digitalis ‘Dakota Burgundy’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 20-24” |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
‘Dakota Burgundy’ stands out in the garden with deep purple foliage that emerges in the spring and remains through the first frost. And the plant becomes even more beautiful when it sends up stalks covered with light pink and purple flowers.
Like most types, ‘Dakota Burgundy’ prefers rocky and well-draining soil over rich and moist soil. Try placing it in a drier section of your garden or add it to containers filled with well-draining soil. Its dark foliage provides a nice contrast to plants with green leaves, including other types of penstemon.
15. Pineleaf
Pineleaf penstemon produces vibrant tubular red flowers in late spring or early summer.
| | botanical name Penstemon pinifolius |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 10-15” |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
The pineleaf penstemon is native to southern Arizona and New Mexico, growing in dry and often harsh landscapes. As its name suggests, its small, narrow leaves resemble pine needles. Despite this resemblance, this deciduous plant loses its leaves in the winter.
Sometime in the late spring or early summer, the plant sends up stunning tubular, red flowers. These flowers continue blooming for at least a month and attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.
Since it’s so drought-tolerant and hardy, it grows great in sandy soil and rock gardens. Try planting it with other perennials like salvia and blackfoot daisy.
16. Red Rocks®
A vibrant hybrid, Red Rocks® blooms from late spring to mid-summer.
| | botanical name Penstemon x mexicali ‘P008S’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 12-24” |
| | hardiness zones 4-8 |
If you want a bright and vibrant penstemon, check out Red Rocks®. This hybrid variety produces bright pink tubular flowers with wide mouths and large lips. The plants continue pumping out new flowers from late spring to mid-summer, adding beauty to your garden and attracting hummingbirds.
Like most penstemon types, these plants don’t tolerate wet or poorly-draining soil. However, they can handle moderate drought and thrive in poor, rocky soil.
17. Rocky Mountain
This Rocky Mountain penstemon thrives in harsh conditions and bears tall, blue-purple flowers.
| | botanical name Penstemon strictus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 30-36” |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
You guessed it—this penstemon is native to high-elevation areas in the Rocky Mountains. It can tolerate heat, drought, and cold, making it an extremely hardy plant.
Plants send up tall flower stalks covered with deep blue or purple flowers. The flowers bloom for at least a month during the spring and summer, and they also make excellent additions to garden bouquets.
Depending on your goals, these plants readily self-seed, which can be either a pro or con. To keep your garden from becoming filled with Rocky Mountain penstemon, cut back the flower stalks shortly after they fade. You can also collect and sow the seeds in other areas or share them with friends.
18. Scarlet Bugler
Akin to other penstemons, scarlet bugler thrives in well-draining, nutrient-poor soil.
| | botanical name Penstemon centranthifolius |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 24-48” |
| | hardiness zones 8-10 |
While these plants don’t produce audible melodies, their bright red flowers attract attention with their beautiful, slender form. The scarlet bugler’s trumpet-shaped flowers are some of the longest and thinnest in the genus and are a lovely complement to round flowers like coreopsis and rudbeckia. They’re also hummingbird magnets.
This plant is native to California and blooms from late winter to mid-summer. The climate impacts the exact bloom period, but you can expect the plants to flower for multiple months if you live in a suitable hardiness zone.
Like most penstemon, the scarlet bugler liked well-draining soil and prefers nutrient-poor soil to rich soil. It can tolerate summer drought, but water it a few times a month to obtain healthier blooms.
19. Showy
This plant’s foliage hosts butterflies and moths like the variable checkerspot and common buckeye.
| | botanical name Penstemon spectabilis |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 24-48” |
| | hardiness zones 8-10 |
The showy penstemon is native to southern California and parts of Mexico, making it less cold-tolerant than other species. However, it can handle heat better and can also survive moderate drought.
As far as looks go, the common name rings true. The plants send up tall flower stalks covered with vibrant tubular flowers. The lips of the flowers are deep purple, and the throats fade from bright pink to white. When you look at the flowers, they almost appear ombre.
The flowers attract hummingbirds, and the foliage serves as host plants for butterflies and moths, including the variable checkerspot, common buckeye, and snowberry checkerspot.
20. Small’s
Often mistaken for a dwarf species, the Small’s penstemon grows up to 3 feet tall.
| | botanical name Penstemon smallii |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 24-36” |
| | hardiness zones 5-8 |
It’s easy to think this is a dwarf penstemon, but the common name references the botanist John Kunkel Small. Small’s penstemon actually grows up to three feet tall, making it a welcome addition to mixed wildflower gardens and meadows.
The plants feature brilliant, deep purple stems covered with finely-toothed, deep green leaves that grow up to six inches long. Flower stalks appear in the early summer and are topped with pink and purple flowers. These flowers typically bloom for about a month.
Small’s penstemon is native to the southeast United States but can also thrive in other areas of the country. Just provide it with well-draining soil and at least six hours of daily sun.
21. Tushar Bluemat
This variety thrives in rock gardens due to its adaptation to high elevations and rocky terrain.
| | botanical name Penstemon xylus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 3-6” |
| | hardiness zones 5-8 |
I think the Tushar bluemat penstemon is simply adorable. While most penstemon plants send up tall, slender stems covered with leaves and flowers, this variety grows more like a groundcover. The compact stems are covered with tightly spaced, blue-green leaves, and the flower stalks remain at the same level as the leaves.
The pink to purple flowers have the same tubular shape as other penstemon plants but are smaller than the blooms found on other species. The flowers appear in the late spring and continue to bloom into the middle of summer.
Since the plant is used to growing in high elevations and rocky areas like the Tushar mountains in Utah, it grows well in exposed rock gardens. You can plant single plants or group plants to form a ground cover.
Final Thoughts
With so many beautiful penstemon varieties available, one of the hardest parts is deciding which ones to grow! I recommend choosing a variety native to your area so you can enjoy beautiful flowers with little to no maintenance.
