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Wright's Penstemon

Penstemon wrightii

Wright's penstemon is a Texas endemic, essentially confined to the limestone hills and canyons of the Trans-Pecos, where it grows out of rock crevices and gravelly slopes. It opens rose-red tubes early in spring over blue-gray foliage and keeps producing sporadically through the season whenever it gets any moisture at all, unusually long for a desert penstemon. Hummingbirds are the main visitor; the tube shape and color are typical of bird pollination in the genus. It is small, under two feet, and forms a tidy clump from a woody base. Sharp drainage is essential and fertility is actively harmful, so plant it in gravel and leave it alone. Its restricted range keeps it uncommon in the trade, though it is easy enough from seed.

Family

Plantaginaceae

Type

wildflower

Lifespan

perennial

Height

1–2 ft

Spacing

1–1.5 ft apart

Light

sun

Soil moisture

dry

Soil pH

neutral, alkaline

Bloom

April, May, June, July, August, September, October

Bloom colors

red, pink

Wildlife value

pollinators, hummingbirds, butterflies, larval host

Caterpillar hosts

~8 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

border, container

Native states

TX