Penstemon Season

Well, I was a little worried, but I was pretty close on the number of Penstemon species in Arizona. There are close to forty. Arizona Flora lists thirty-eight species and that was in 1960. Who knows how many more species have been added, subtracted or combined sixty years later…okay someone knows, but not me. Anyway…KIDS, COLLECT THE WHOLE SET!

I read that Penstemon fendleri is not all that common in Arizona and it’s found in Greenlee and Cochise counties from 4,000 to 5,000 feet. We fall into that category. That makes it sort of cool to have around our place and I think I will collect some seed and grow a few in pots for fun.

If you are into the beardtongues, and why shouldn’t you be, why not plant some in the fall. They are most often sold in the spring when they’re flowering and they are so hard to resist, but it’s hard to get them home with out breaking off half of the flowering stems and then by the time you get them in the ground their flowering season is over. A fall planting solves that problem.  Okay, there are species that are woodier and/or have longer blooming periods and will do fine with a spring planting…well, I’m leaving it up to you.

The photos of Penstemon fendleri are mine and taken at our little homestead.