Gulf Coast penstemon, a springtime beauty
Gulf Coast penstemon (Penstemon tenuis) and Hinckley’s columbine
One of the joys of a garden is observing its seasonal changes. Although evergreens are a necessary and beautiful way to ensure year-round structure, texture, and interest, the comings and goings of certain flowers, berries, leaves, and seedheads drum out a rhythm for the seasons that evergreens can’t match. We anticipate their earliest appearance, revel in their short-lived beauty, and bid a wistful farewell as they fade.
One of the fleeting appearances I look for in spring is Gulf Coast penstemon, a native penstemon that, unlike western species, prefers part shade and tolerates seasonally wet soil.
The flower stem, bracketed by long, pointed leaves, supports numerous lavender, bell-shaped flowers fuzzed in tiny, white hairs. They prove irresistible to honeybees.
Time to buzz on over to the next flower.
I like to grow Gulf Coast penstemon in dappled shade or morning sun, paired with columbine, heuchera, and ‘Diamond Frost’ euphorbia. The delicate flowers look quite pretty against the muscular white trunks of a Texas persimmon.
Penstemon tenuis seeds out freely, but I never find my garden overrun with seedlings. I’m happy to get a few more plants each spring to spread around in my mostly shady garden.
What short-lived spring flowers are you enjoying in your garden right now?
All material © 2006-2010 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Beautiful flowers aren’t they 🙂
In the UK I am enjoying the wonderful snakeshead fritillary, and looking forward to the bluebells
Good morning, Pam! I don’t think I was aware there is such a delicate penstemon. That is a beauty! Self sowing? Even better! Thanks for sharing!
Pam, great photos! Love the honeybee, excellent shot. My penstemon is blooming right now – love that – and I never thought to put it with the yellow columbine. I’m certainly going to steal that idea right now, it’s gorgeous. Great post!
I think the penstemon is going to be very short lived this year. It is tall and gangly and racing towards seeding. Love the photo of the bee. t looks like it just unloaded its pollen sacs.
Pam, beautiful bee shot! This (aka Brazos penstemon) was one of the very first plants I bought when I first moved to Austin. It always blooms punctually right around my granddaughter’s birthday and right after the irises have finished. Right now its lavender is pairing with larkspur blues.
How wonderful to be able to grow a Penstemon in the shade. It is so beautiful!
You captured it’s beauty so well…wild violets I am enjoying this year.
Beautiful shots of blooms and bees.
I like it paired with the heuchera. BTW, I found you initially on your post about moving your whale’s tongue agave. Awesome!
What a pretty flower! Charming!
A beautiful little Penstemon, and it looks so lovely with your yellow Columbine in the background too.
Early blooms enjoyed in our garden – Verbena wrightii, Echinomastus intertextus, scorpionweed.
Nearby in town – Iris, lilac, Cercis reniformis and C. canadensis, even daffodils, since spring was late and it has stayed so cool.
In nearby natural areas – Oenothera pallida…much more next week everywhere.
That first shot is a winner for sure. What a great specimen.
What a lovely combination of flowers. My wish list is getting longer and longer! Your bee photos are amazing!
When I read the title of your post I thought about how the hummingbirds and bees like these penstemons. Then I scrolled down and see your bee photos. SWEET.
Right now the phlox is blooming and I am thoroughly enjoying watching P pilosa dance with Golden Ragwort…Penstemons are among my favorites Pam and this cutie pie is very nice. gail
Ah the reasons I love Gulf Coast penstemon. It grows in Houston (It’s the only penstemon that is easy to grow there) and reproduces like crazy. My friend has given me transplanting rights for hers which ended up at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in the butterfly gardens, at the Native Plant sales and this year in my Dripping Springs garden and in her new garden in Galveston. And it brings in bees and hummers which also help to make the garden more beautiful. Now if the deer only won’t eat it, I could spread it all over the wild sunny parts of my yard.
I absolutely love Gulf Coast Penstemon. When I found there was a penstemon that color that liked moisture I was on it. Beautiful photos.