Penstemon eatonii : The Power of Plants

Plant of the Month – May

Firecracker Penstemon, Eaton’s Firecracker, Scarlet Bugler Penstemon eatonii Plant Form: Evergreen perennial Water Use: Low Mature Size: 2 feet tall and wide (flower stalks 2-4 feet tall) Exposure: Full sun Bloom Time: Late winter – spring (Feb – June) Native to: S. California, Colorado, Utah, Arizona Hardiness: Cold hardy to 0°F Firecracker Penstemon is irresistible to hummingbirds due to its nectar-filled, brilliant, scarlet flowers. It is among the first to bloom in spring, providing an early-season nectar source for hummingbirds. […]

Filed under Plant of the Month · Tagged with California native plants, California water-wise gardening, Drought-tolerant plants, Eaton's Firecracker, Firecracker Penstemon, gardening with native plants, Heat-tolerant plants, hummingbird gardens, low water use plants, native desert plants, Penstemon eatonii, Rabbit resistant, Scarlet Bugler, Southern California native plants, southwest desert landscaping, southwest native plants, Water-wise landscaping, Xeriscape plants

I am amazed every day at how much happens on our half-acre of High Desert property. Whether we are simply looking out the window at our bird feeders, working in our yard, or sitting on our deck watching the sunset, my husband and I get the biggest kick out of seeing the dynamics unfolding between our resident covey of a hundred quail, dozens of songbirds, rabbits, antelope ground squirrels, lizards, friendly snakes, occasional coyotes, bobcat, fox, and even hungry hawks.

It’s hard to believe how much activity can be packed into such a small yard when it has various levels of “living spaces,” simulating a multi-story hotel, creating homes galore in ground covers, branches, and canopies of plants. Added to the backdrop of a seasonal procession of color from flowering plants, fruiting shrubs and trees, the happenings in our yard provide continual cause for delight, surprise, inspiration, and celebration.

I hope you enjoy following the fascinating cycle of life that plays out in a yard dedicated to wildlife, water-wise native plants, and other delights of a hopeless plant lover.

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Join us on a captivating adventure into the world of plants and their impressive uses. Experience the plants growing in your area’s natural community as you never have before…through taste, smell, touch, herbal remedies, landscape, stories and even art.

Find food, medicine, home décor and garden landscaping in the plants native to the southwestern United States, and learn how to prepare them yourself during our hands-on workshops.

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