Firecracker penstemon

Penstemon eatonii

Family:: Plantaginaceae
Elevation:: 3,000 ft – 7,500 ft
Bloom:: Mar – Jun
Region:: Southwest

An upright spring wildflower sending up wands of tubular, brilliant scarlet-red flowers above a basal rosette of glossy green leaves. A hummingbird magnet that lights up desert gardens and roadsides just as spring warms.

Care · tuned to the Southwest

Water

Very drought tolerant once established; water deeply but infrequently. Overwatering, especially in heavy soil or summer heat, causes crown and root rot. Tolerates monsoon rains if drainage is sharp.

Sun & exposure

Full sun for best flowering and sturdy stems; takes reflected heat well. Light afternoon shade acceptable at lower, hotter elevations.

Soil

Wants lean, fast-draining soil — gravelly, sandy, or rocky. Tolerates alkaline and caliche soils; avoid rich amended beds that hold moisture.

In the Southwest

Cold hardy into the single digits Fahrenheit. Short-lived perennial that self-sows readily where happy — leave some seed heads to perpetuate the stand. A premier early-season hummingbird plant. Cut spent flower stalks to tidy and encourage rebloom.

Common problems & fixes

Short-lived with crown rot on wet winter soils
Fix — Plant in gritty, fast-draining soil, keep it dry in winter, and let it reseed to replace itself.
Flopping or weak stems from too much water or shade
Fix — Grow in full sun and lean soil with minimal irrigation to keep stalks sturdy.

Pets & toxicity

Not known to be toxic to dogs, cats, or livestock.

Easy to confuse with

Parry's penstemon (Penstemon parryi) — open pink-magenta flowers, not narrow scarlet tubes
Scarlet bugler (Penstemon barbatus) — flowers are lipped and gaping rather than narrowly cylindrical

Sources

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