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Rocky Mountain Penstemon Seeds

These lovely periwinkle-colored blooms are native to North America

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Shipped from Asheville, NC

About the Variety

Key Features

Frost Tolerant
Heat Tolerant
Drought Tolerant
Prefers Lean Soil
Container Friendly
Attracts Bees
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Hummingbirds
Fast Growing
Easy to Grow
Perfect for Cut Flowers
Perfect for Borders
Perfect for Dried Flowers
Perfect for Xeriscaping
Reduces Erosion
Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
North American Native

Plant Details

BOTANICAL NAME

Penstemon strictus

LIFE CYCLE

  • Perennial

SEED TYPE

  • Heirloom Seed
  • Open Pollinated Seed

LIGHT REQUIREMENT

  • Full Sun
  • Partial Shade

BLOOM SEASON

  • Summer

GROWTH HABIT

  • Upright

PLANT HEIGHT

  • Up to 18 inches

COLOR

  • Purple

As you probably could have guessed, Rocky Mountain Penstemon is native to the Western mountain states and a common resident of high mountain meadows. Like its siblings in pink and white, this periwinkle blue penstemon also demonstrates remarkable drought tolerance!

  • • Heirloom North American native perennial
  • • Tall-growing heirloom with purple Summer blooms
  • • Thrives in full sun or partially shaded areas

Planting Information

PLANTING SEASON

  • Fall
  • Spring

SOWING METHOD

  • Direct Sow
  • Start Indoors

PLANTING DEPTH

  • 1/8 inch

WATER NEEDS

  • Average

PLANT SPACING

  • 12 inches

HARDINESS ZONES

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8

SEED PREP

  • Requires Light
  • Stratification

COVERAGE

Amount Avg Seed Count Recommended Coverage
Packet 420 Up to 80 Sq. Ft
1 Ounce 68,000 Up to 625 Sq. Ft
1/4 Pound 272,000 Up to 2,500 Sq. Ft

Planting Guide

View our Penstemon Planting Guide to learn more.

All penstemon
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    Rocky Mountain Penstemon Seeds FAQs

    What is Rocky Mountain Penstemon also known as?

    Rocky Mountain Penstemon is also known as Beardtongue and Beard Tongue.

    Is Rocky Mountain Penstemon resistant to animals or disease?

    Rocky Mountain Penstemon is deer resistant and rabbit resistant, meaning deer and rabbits generally avoid it due to its taste, texture, or aroma.

    Customer Reviews

    Overall rating: 2.0 / 5 from 7 reviews.

    These did not grow for me. BUT….i am new to starting things from seeds and I winter sowed these. Could be Gardner Error. lol

    Rocky Mountain Penstemon Seeds

    Store owner replied: Hello Lani. Thank you again for your feedback, and we are happy we were able to provide a resolution for you and some tips for future success. This is a variety that can sometimes be a bit tricky from seed, especially for newer gardeners. Winter sowing is often recommended because the seeds benefit from cold exposure, but germination can still be slow or inconsistent depending on moisture levels, temperature swings, and spring conditions. Excess winter moisture or repeated freeze/thaw cycles can occasionally affect success rates as well. We truly appreciate your positive attitude and willingness to share your experience. Seed starting can definitely involve some trial and error, and we always stand behind our products while remaining happy to help with planting tips and troubleshooting along the way!

    I thought these were going to be failures. It took several tries, but they bloomed second year after a very slow first year. impressive roots and much happier after I divided them. Don't lose hope! They are beautiful and the hummingbirds love them!

    Rocky Mountain Penstemon Seeds

    Waited all season for these to bloom. Sadly, they never did. Very disappointed.

    Rocky Mountain Penstemon Seeds

    Store owner replied: Hello TMooney. Thank you for your review of Eden Brothers! Rocky Mountain Penstemon typically doesn’t bloom the first year from seed, as it spends that time developing strong roots and foliage. You can expect flowers to appear starting in the second year, and once established, they’ll return reliably each season with tall spikes of vibrant blue blooms. We see that you emailed with Customer service and they were able to assist you with this. If you have any other concerns about this, feel free to reach back out and we are happy to help you further!

    I started this seed last year and it took a whole growing cycle to bloom. This year it grew extremely full and producing exactly like the picture on the seed packet!

    Rocky Mountain Penstemon Seeds

    Direct sowed 2 envelopes same area, 3.5 weeks later and not one sprout. Very disappointed.

    Rocky Mountain Penstemon Seeds

    Store owner replied: Hello MaryofVA. Thank you for your review of Eden Brothers! We truly appreciate you bringing this to our attention. Feedback like yours is invaluable, as it helps us continually improve our products and make our planting instructions as clear as possible. After checking in with our Customer Service Team, it looks like we were able to assist you further. We hope that, with the additional information about your seeds’ specific needs, you’ll have a much better planting experience moving forward. Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts with us!

    Followed exact instructions with no results. Using grow lights in controlled environment and not one seed germinated.

    Rocky Mountain Penstemon Seeds

    Store owner replied: Hello Jerry M. Thanks so much for your review! We greatly appreciate your feedback on this matter. We're always looking for ways to improve our products and service and will certainly take your information into account. After speaking with our Customer Service Team, it seems we were able to resolve this for you. Thanks again for your review and best wishes for your growing season!

    Didn't germinate a single seed under appropriate conditions. Very disappointed

    Rocky Mountain Penstemon Seeds

    Store owner replied: Hello Juliana. Thank you for your review of Eden Brothers! We greatly appreciate you bringing this to our attention. It's so important to have feedback like this so we can continually improve our products. After speaking with our Customer Service Team, it seems we were able to resolve this for you. Thanks for your time in sharing your experience with us!

    Companion Plants

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