Penstemon eatonii var. eatonii

Common Names

Firecracker Penstemon, Eaton's Penstemon, Beardtongue, Firecracker Beardtongue, Eaton's Beardtongue, Pride of the Mountain, Scarlet Bugler

Summary

Firecracker penstemon is a short‑lived perennial herb native to the western United States from Colorado to California, occurring in dry sagebrush and desert shrub habitats with well‑drained soils. It forms a basal rosette of glabrous, dark green leaves and sends ascending to erect stems reaching about 1.3–3.3 ft tall, with flower stalks rising 2–4 ft above foliage; bright scarlet tubular two‑lipbed flowers line the stems and attract hummingbirds and other pollinators; drought‑ and cold‑tolerant and well‑suited to full sun with dry to normal moisture; evergreen or semi‑evergreen in favorable climates.

In cultivation, provide full sun to light shade and well‑drained soil; drought‑tolerant once established with occasional deep watering and minimal fertilizer; propagate by seed, stem cuttings, or division; reseeds readily and is suitable for erosion control, rock gardens, borders, and wildlife‑friendly landscapes; deer resistant; hardy in zones 4–8.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-4 feet

Spread

1-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun. Tolerates partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained, sandy to gravelly loam soils.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soils

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Red to scarlet

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Dark green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous, Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Medium to fast.

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Stem cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, birds