Plant of the Month – February
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Coral or Superb Penstemon
This truly superb penstemon will catch the eye of hummingbirds, spinx moths, bees, you, and all your visitors.
Penstemon superbus
- Plant Form: Perennial
- Water Use: Low
- Mature Size: 4-6’ tall with stalks; 1-2’ wide
- Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Bloom Time: Spring – Summer (February – June)
- Native to: Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico
- Hardiness: Cold hardy to 15°F
This guaranteed hummingbird magnet is absolutely stunning when tall spikes of vivid coral flowers rise 4 to 6 feet above a rosette of large, blue-green leaves. The eye-catching flowers also attract bees and sphinx moths (often mistaken for hummingbirds), and its seeds attract songbirds. Plant in fall for spring flowers. Remove spent flower stalks and give some supplemental summer water to extend flowering. To take advantage of its tendency to self-seed, wait to cut some flowering stems off at the base until after seeds are sewn. This herbaceous perennial lives for 3 to 5 years. Re-seed at least every two years to keep new seedlings starting as older plants die out. This delightful perennial, also known as Superb Penstemon, grows well in full sun or filtered shade in well-draining soil. Coral Penstemon looks great behind lower shrubs and perennials for a layered effect.
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