Plant types

Plant styles

Planting conditions

Seasonal interest

Nurseries & Gardens

Photo by Drew Avery

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

Show all photos

Penstemon pinifolius

Also Known As

Pineleaf Penstemon

Plant type

perennial

size

H: 6"-2'
W: 2'

planting zones

4a-10b

More Options

Penstemon pinifolius plant details

Penstemon pinifolius is a broadleaf evergreen perennial with green foliage. In spring and summer orange and yellow flowers emerge. Attracts hummingbirds. Grows well with sun - mostly sun and regular - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in gritty, rich, rocky and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Penstemon pinifolius

Plant type: perennial
Plant family: plantaginaceae
Foliage: evergreen green
Mature size: 2 FT wide, 6 IN - 2 FT - tall
Flowers: orange and yellow blooms in spring and summer
Uses: rock garden, xeric, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Penstemon pinifolius

USDA Zones: 4a - 10b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly sun
Watering frequency: regular - low
Resistant to: heat and verticillium wilt
Soil needs: gritty, rich, rocky and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Narrow, pine-needle-like leaves on this 1' perennial are topped with scarlet Penstemon "bugles" during summer. S/D/GDr

By: Forestfarm

Long-lived perennial with evergreen pine-like foliage and orange-red flowers late spring through the summer. Hummingbird candy. Great on a sunny slope or rock garden. Grows to about a foot high x 2 feet wide in sun to part shade Drought tolerant but tolerates regular garden conditions. Frost hardy to -15F, mid USDA zone 5.

By: Cistus Nursery

Penstemon pinifolius, true to its name, grows in low bushy mounds covered in extremely narrow, pine needle-like leaves. But it is the firecracker-like flowers that get all the attention. In late spring through summer the plant is covered in bright scarlet red, tubular flowers that will draw every hummingbird from miles around. Easy to grow in hot, dry sunny spots. Usually evergreen developing a woody base with time.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

Has long, tubular bright orange-red flowers, bound to attract hummingbirds. Stems become woody in age. For well drained soil - drought tolerant.

By: Edelweiss Perennials

Set your Summer garden ablaze with this heat loving Penstemon for the rock garden that produces enough red-hot flowers to start a hummingbird turf war! Its season of color lasts for about two months during the late Spring & early Summer (some say much longer) with many spikes of tubular red blooms. Out of bloom, it looks a bit like a miniature conifer because of its needle-like leaves & woody base. Growing to around 1’ high & wide, it really prefers a well drained soil (raised beds work great) & a very sunny spot in the garden. Native to Arizona, New Mexico & Northern Mexico.