Create Your Garden

Penstemon pinifolius (Pine-needle Beardtongue)

Pine-needle Penstemon, Pine-needle Beardtongue

AGM Award
Penstemon pinifolius, Pine-needle Penstemon, Pine-needle Beardtongue, Red Penstemon

A long-lived western native, award-winning Penstemon pinifolius (Pine-needle Beardtongue) is a spreading evergreen dwarf shrub forming a dense tussock of fresh green needle-like leaves on upright to gently arching stems. Blooming for many weeks in late spring through the summer, bright tubular red-orange flowers, 1 in. long (2.5cm) are borne in short erect racemes. They attract scores of hummingbirds, butterflies and other beneficial pollinators. The attractive habit, evergreen foliage and long-lasting blossoms make Penstemon pinifolius ideal as an edge or foreground plant. Great for rock gardens.

  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
  • Grows up to 10-12 in. tall (25-30 cm) and 12-18 in. wide (30-45 cm).
  • Performs best in full sun in sandy, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. Drought tolerant once established. Dislikes damp conditions and needs excellent drainage. Protect with a dry winter mulch in frost prone areas.
  • Provides a bold and striking impact in beds and borders, city gardens, coastal gardens, cottage gardens, rock gardens or in containers. Plant in bold groupings.
  • No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for slugs, snails, powdery mildews. Rabbit resistant.
  • Propagate by seed in late winter or spring: sow seeds at 55-64°F (13-18°C). Take softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer.
  • Unless seed is needed, deadheading will promote reblooming and more vigorous growth.
  • Native to southern New Mexico and Arizona.

Penstemon: How to Grow and Care with Success


Properly growing Penstemon ensures robust, vibrant blooms and foliage, enhances garden biodiversity by attracting pollinators, prevents disease, and maintains plant health. Thriving plants provide longer-lasting beauty and environmental benefits, contributing positively to local ecosystems and the aesthetic value of your landscape.

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 10
Heat Zones 1 - 10
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Plantaginaceae
Genus Penstemon
Common names Penstemon, Beardtongue
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height 10" - 1' (25cm - 30cm)
Spread 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" (50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United States, Southwest, New Mexico, Arizona
Tolerance Drought, Rabbit, Rocky Soil, Deer
Attracts Hummingbirds, Bees
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage, Coastal Garden, City and Courtyard, Gravel and Rock Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Penstemon (Beardtongue)
Not sure which Penstemon (Beardtongue) to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Penstemon pallidus (Pale Beardtongue)
Penstemon pseudospectabilis (Desert Beardtongue)
Penstemon parryi (Parry’s Beardtongue)
Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Electric Blue’ (Foothill Beardtongue)
Penstemon ‘Evelyn’ (Beardtongue)
Penstemon ovatus (Eggleaf Beardtongue)

Recommended Companion Plants

Echinacea (Coneflower)
Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender)
Rudbeckia hirta (Black-Eyed Susan)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

A Drought-Resistant Oasis: Flowers and Foliage for a Resilient Garden
Top 70 Summer Flowers to Brighten Your Garden and Home
50 Best Fall Flowers for Your Autumn Garden
Desert Flowers: Bringing Color to Dry Gardens
50 Fall Wildflowers: Top Picks for a Vibrant Autumn Garden
50 Summer Wildflowers: Bright Blooms for Your Garden
50 Wildflowers that Thrive in Sun
50 Blue Wildflowers for Every Garden
50 Pink Wildflowers for Every Garden
50 Purple Wildflower to Brighten Your Garden
50 California Wildflowers: From Desert Blooms to Coastal Gems
50 Colorado Wildflowers to Know and Love
50 Texas Wildflowers to Brighten Your Garden
35 Flowering Shrubs That Thrive in Full Sun
42 Best Perennial Flowers and Plants to Brighten Your Garden Every Season
Penstemon and Pollinators: A Harmonious Dance in the Garden
Thriving in Thirst: Colorful Penstemons for Water-Wise Landscapes
Penstemon: How to Grow and Care with Success
Penstemon (Beardtongue)
For the Love of Bees: Best Flowers to Attract them to Your Garden
How to Cultivate a Thriving Bee-Friendly Garden
50 Native Wildflowers for North Carolina
Best Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 10
Heat Zones 1 - 10
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Plantaginaceae
Genus Penstemon
Common names Penstemon, Beardtongue
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height 10" - 1' (25cm - 30cm)
Spread 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" (50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United States, Southwest, New Mexico, Arizona
Tolerance Drought, Rabbit, Rocky Soil, Deer
Attracts Hummingbirds, Bees
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage, Coastal Garden, City and Courtyard, Gravel and Rock Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Penstemon (Beardtongue)
Not sure which Penstemon (Beardtongue) to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Penstemon pinifolius (Pine-needle Beardtongue) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Penstemon pinifolius (Pine-needle Beardtongue) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone