Penstemon rupicola
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ROCK PENSTEMON
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Pronounced: pen-STAY-mon roo-PIH-koe-lah
GROWING GUIDE
Geographic Origin:
Pacific Northwest.
Plant Group:
Perennial.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: 2-7, 14-17.
USDA zones: 4-9.
Mature size:
Height: 4 inches (10 cm).
Width: 18 inches (45 cm).
Flowering period:
May.
Flowering attributes:
Tubular, bell-shaped, reddish-pink flower.
Leaf attributes:
Evergreen, round, leathery leaf.
Growth habit:
Clump-forming.
Light:
Full sun.
Soil:
Gritty, poor, well-drained soil.
Propagation Methods:
Divide in late spring. | Softwood cuttings in spring.
Rainy Side Notes
Penstemon comes from the Greek words pente, five, and stemon, a stamen, referring to the five stamens. Rupicola means growing on rocks, as this western native does in its native haunts.
From Northern California up through Washington, Penstemon rupicola grows in rock outcrops and cliff ledges, where it adds bright colors, in the Siskiyou Mountain Range and on both sides of the Cascade Mountains. It grows well on my rock wall border, as it is one of the easier rock garden plants to grow. Provide it a very well-drained situation such as a rock garden, or settle it into a crevice in a rock wall. It is a sweet little native plant.
As with many of the penstemons, this species is an excellent hummingbird and bee plant.
Debra Teachout-Teashon
Photographed in author's garden.
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