Penstemon digitalis -- (Smooth Penstemon)


Penstemon digitalis, is one of the most popular Penstemon in its family.  Being Perennial of the Year in 1996, one can see why.  Best known for its maroon-red foliage, the white flowers make a wonderful contrast.  Flowers bloom mid-spring to early summer.  Very showy 1" tubular clear white flowers.  A very showy perennial for a sunny garden border.  Dark green foliage with purple colouring is a wonderful contrast to its many small, white flowers.  Looks nice when planted in a group of several plants. 
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 Scientific Name:  Penstemon digitalis
 Common Name:  Smooth Penstemon
 Other Common Names:

 Duration of Life:  Perennial
 Bloom Color:  White, Purple
 Soil Moisture:  Dry, Mesic
 Sun Requirements:  Full, Partial
 Plant Origin:  Native
 Soil Type prefered:  Sand, Loam, Clay
 Drought Tolerance:  High
 Flower Conspicuous:  Yes
 Soil Fertility Requirement:  Medium
 Moisture Use:  Low
 Shade Tolerance:  Tolerant
 Growing Zone:  3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
 Active Growth Period:  Spring, Summer
 Anaerobic Tolerance:  Low
 Calcium Carbonate Tolerance:  Low
 Bloom Period:  Late Spring
 Commercial Availability:  Routinely Available
 Competitivness:  Sensitive
 Cold Stratification Required:  No
 Best established via:  Plant
 Fall Conspicuous:  No
 Frost Free Days, Minimum:  110
 Foliage Color:  Red
 Fruit/Seed Abundance:  Medium
 Fruit/Seed Period Begin:  Summer
 Fruit/Seed Conspicuous:  No
 Fruit/Seed Period End:  Summer
 Fruit/Seed Color:  Brown
 Fruit/Seed Persistence:  No
 Fire Tolerance:  Medium
 Foliage Texture:  Fine
 Growth Form:  Rhizomatous
 Growth Habit:  Forb/herb
 Growth Rate:  Moderate
 Height, Mature (feet):  4
 Leaf Retention:  No
 Low Growing Grass:  No
 Life Span:  Moderate
 Max. Planting Density/Acre:  4800
 Min. Planting Density/Acre:  2700
 pH (Maximum):  7
 pH (Minimum):  5.5
 Precipitation (Minimum):  30
 Protein Potential:  Low
 Plant Spacing:  12 to 24 inches
 Resprout Ability:  No
 Root Depth, Min. (inches):  8
 Salt Tolerance:  Medium
 Shape and Orientation:  Erect
 Flowering Months:  June, July
 Small Grain:  No
 Seeds Per Ounce:  120,000
 Seed per Pound:  400000
 Seed Spread Rate:  Slow
 Seedling Vigor:  Medium
 Temperature, Minimum (F):  -38
 Toxicity:  None
 Vegetative Spread Rate:  Moderate
 Found in Old fields:  No
 Found in Virgin fields:  Yes
 RGR Bloom Begin:  06/14
 RGR Bloom Peak:  06/20
 RGR Bloom End:  07/04
 RGR Seed Collection Peak:  10/15
 Propagation:  Container, Seed, Sprigs
 Palpable: (eatable)

 Uses:  Fodder
 Where Found in S.E. MN:

 Pronounciation:  (PEN-steh-mon dij-ih-TAL-iss)
 Category:  Dicot
 Division:  Magnoliophyta
 Class:  Magnoliopsida
 Order:  Scrophulariales
 Family:  Scrophulariaceae
 Genus:  Penstemon

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