Penstemon newberryi

Common Names

Mountain Pride, Beardtongue, Newberry's Beardtongue, Newberry's Penstemon

Summary

Mountain pride is a bushy, mat-forming evergreen subshrub native to rocky, high-elevation habitats in the mountains of northern California, Oregon, and Nevada, including talus. It remains under about 30 cm tall, with mostly basal, thick, leathery leaves and a few smaller leaves along the stems. The glandular inflorescence bears magenta-pink tubular flowers about 2–3 cm long in a short raceme usually all turned to one side, highly conspicuous to native bees and other pollinators.

Culture favors well-drained rocky soil with sun to very light shade and occasional summer waterings; USDA hardiness zones 6a–9b. Drought-tolerant once established, it works well in rock gardens, gravel gardens, patios/containers, and wildlife gardens, and it can be propagated by seed or cuttings; flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

4-12 inches

Spread

12-18 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6a-8b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained rocky soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Magenta to red

Bloom Time

Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Cuttings, Seeds (sown in pots in a cold frame; 2 months stratification), Cuttings (softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings in midsummer; tip-cuttings June to September).

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and birds.