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Penstemon triflorus (Hill country penstemon)
Marcus, Joseph A.

Penstemon triflorus Heller

Hill Country Penstemon, Scarlet Penstemon, Heller's beardtongue

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

USDA Symbol: PETR2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Heller’s beardtongue or Hill Country penstemon is 1 1/2-2 ft. tall. Its brilliant red flowers, 2 in. long, are among the most showy of the genus. Pairs of dark-green leaves occur opposite eachother along the stem. The two-lipped flowers also occur in pairs.

Small bushy stature, intense red color, and largeness of flowers set this penstemon apart from others.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Opposite
Leaf Pubescence: Puberulent
Leaf Margin: Dentate
Inflorescence: Panicle , Terminal
Size Notes: 1.5-2 feet.
Flower: Flower up to an inch wide. Sepals 5
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: TX
Native Distribution: Endemic to the Edwards Plateau in TX
Native Habitat: Limestone hills; open areas
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Limestone soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Limestone-based
Conditions Comments: Hill Country penstemon is a striking prairie or garden plant, and is another fabulous cut flower. Provides nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds. Cut back the old seed stalks or allow them to reseed. Hybridizes with the closely related Penstemon cobaea. Small bushy stature, intense red color, and largeness of flowers set this Penstemon apart from others.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Perennial garden, Blooms ornamental, Showy
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Hummingbirds
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: Minimal

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Propagation is by seed or cuttings.
Seed Collection: Collect seed mid-summer, making sure it has not had the opportunity to hybridize with P. cobea.
Seed Treatment: Germination is best with cold-moist stratification.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Tohono Chul Park, Inc. - Tucson, AZ
Native Plant Society of Texas - Fredericksburg, TX
NPSOT - Fredericksburg Chapter - Fredericksburg, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 293 - Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1979) Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 281 - Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (1999) Diggs, G. M.; B. L. Lipscomb; B. O'Kennon; W. F...
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Penstemon triflorus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Penstemon triflorus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Penstemon triflorus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-04-15
Research By: TWC Staff

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