Penstemon -
Rocky Mountain Blue
:
The Penstemon
Rocky Mountain Blue,
'Penstemon strictus',
has elegant bluish
purple spikes of
tubular flowers that
lend a touch of
formality to the dry
flower garden. Rocky
Mountain Penstemon
enhances the garden
twelve months of the
year. The exquisite
blue flower spikes
are followed by
graceful seed pods.
In winter, evergreen
basal rosettes turn
from green to
reddish purple,
shrugging
temperatures well
below zero. Rocky
Mountain Blues start
blooming during the
first hot days of
early summer and
continue for several
weeks.
Penstemon prefer
full sun and light
shade. Water
regularly and do not
over fertilize.
Plant in the spring,
3 to 4 weeks before
the last average
frost date or in
late fall. The Rocky
Mountain Blue are
used for wildflower
plantings, borders
and as cut flowers.
They also attract
butterflies.
