PALMER PENSTEMON

Penstemon palmeri

Rightly called the queen of the desert garden, Palmer penstemon features a tall, stately growth form, large, waxy green leaves, and spectacular spikes of pale to deep pink, fragrant blossoms that resemble large snapdragon flowers. A fuzzy golden 'beardtongue' protrudes from each blossom. Palmer penstemon is a true desert plant that can thrive on very little water, and it does not tolerate overwatering. It will prosper on benign neglect on drier sites. To grow it successfully on somewhat wetter sites, provide a well-drained planting medium that is very low in humus (organic matter), and plant on a berm or slope in full sun. A mixture of sand and gravel works well for this plant, and in fact works for most of its relatives in the penstemon genus. If you ignore these recommendations, your Palmer penstemon may grow lavishly for a year or two, but it will not live long. Palmer penstemon looks good planted with other tall desert perennials like prince's plume, which shares its aversion to humus and excess water.