FIRECRACKER PENSTEMON

Penstemon eatonii

There are many species of penstemon that feature the bright red flowers that attract hummingbirds and provide a source of nectar in exchange for pollination. Most of these red penstemons are found in the south, where hummingbirds are more diverse and more abundant. Firecracker penstemon is found further north than any other red penstemon, into northern Utah, and it has been planted successfully throughout our region. Thanks to the development of a named selection that is now in extensive seed production, this species has become quite readily available both as plants and as seeds. It features spectacular, tall spikes of tubular scarlet flowers over glossy, deep green foliage. It flowers for several weeks in early summer, and makes a great companion to midseason-flowering relatives like Palmer, littlecup, and Rocky Mountain penstemon. It also works well as a specimen plant, especially with a backdrop of rocks. Firecracker penstemon plants will live many years if planted in an infertile, fast-draining soil, preferably on a slope that mimics the roadcut habitat where it is so often found in nature.