Bridge's Penstemon

Penstemon rostriflorus

PEN-stem-on rost-rih-FLOR-us
2 to 3 ft.
2 to 3 ft.

low, very low

orange-red

July and August

2 to 3 ft.

2 to 3 ft.

Yes

southwestern United States

sun

USDA zones 4-8

hardy to 7,000 ft.

Bridges' penstemon is a perennial flower native to the southwestern United States. It is a somewhat shrubby, long-lived plant with tufts of dark, evergreen foliage.

The slender trumpet-shaped flowers are orange-red and bloom prolifically through the hot summer months. While most penstemons bloom early, Bridges' Penstemon will flower later in the summer. This little-known southwestern native wildflower is noted for having a longer life span than most other penstemons.

low, very low

orange-red

July and August

2 to 3 ft.

2 to 3 ft.

Yes

southwestern United States

sun

USDA zones 4-8

hardy to 7,000 ft.

Bridge's penstemon is a good choice for a hot sunny location. It has grown well at the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden. The show of scarlet flowers is quite impressive and is a welcome sight later in the growing season.

This plant needs little to no maintainence. It may be pruned lightly in the spring to remove any winter-kill and to create a more compact plant.