San Marcos Growers LogoSan Marcos Growers
New User
Wholesale Login
Enter Password
Home Products Purchase Gardens About Us Resources Contact Us
Nursery Closure
Search Utilities
Plant Database
Search Plant Name
Detail Search Avanced Search Go Button
Search by size, origins,
details, cultural needs
Website Search Search Website GO button
Search for any word
Site Map
Retail Locator
Plant Listings

PLANT TYPE
PLANT GEOGRAPHY
PLANT INDEX
ALL PLANT LIST
PLANT IMAGE INDEX
PLANT INTROS
SPECIALTY CROPS
NEW  2026 PLANTS

LIVE AVAILABILITY
  for MARCH


Natives at San Marcos Growers
Succulents at San Marcos Growers
 Weather Station

 
Products > Penstemon 'Garnet'
 
Penstemon 'Garnet' - Beard Tongue

Note: This plant is no longer in stock. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.  
Image of Penstemon 'Garnet'
 
Habit and Cultural Information
Category: Perennial
Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figworts)
Origin: Mexico (North America)
Evergreen: Yes
Flower Color: Fuchsia Pink
Bloomtime: Summer
Synonyms: [P.'Andenken an Friedrich Hahn']
Parentage: (Penstemon campanulatus hybrid)
Height: 1-2 feet
Width: 1-2 feet
Exposure: Sun or Shade
Deer Tolerant: Yes
Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F
Penstemon 'Garnet' (Beard Tongue) - This plant, often considered a Penstemon campanulatus hybrid, is one of the longest living Penstemon hybrids in our garden. It has finer texture than the other Border Penstemon hybrids and a bit more sprawly open habit. It is an evergreen perennial or sub-shrub with a spreading form to 2 feet tall with slender stems clothed with narrow lance-shaped dark green leaves. The trumpet-shaped garnet-red flowers with red-striped throats are in held on dense spikes that arch outward from the center of the plant from late spring until fall and often appear year-round in coastal gardens. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies into the garden. Plant in full sun along the coast and provide some light shade inland. Tolerates and even thrives in poor soils and alkaline conditions but requires relatively good drainage. Can survive very dry conditions in cooler coastal gardens but looks better with occasional irrigation and requires it in hotter locations. Pinch plants after the first bloom to promote a quick re-bloom and cut back hard in winter to encourage a new flush of dense growth in spring. While extremely showy, Border Penstemons are notably short lived and for plantings to look best, they should be replanted every 3-5 years. Hardy to below 15° F and even much lower if soil is not moist. The Bedding or Border Penstemons are now considered to have a complex parentage involving Penstemon cobaea, P. hartwegii, P. campanulata, P. gentianoides and P. isophyllus. 

The information displayed on this page about Penstemon 'Garnet' is based on the research we have conducted about it in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about this plant as it grows in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant have performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we have received from others and welcome hearing from anyone with information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information that will aid others to better grow it.

 
San Marcos Growers, established in 1979, closed for regular business on December 23rd 2025 as the property will be developed for affordable housing.
The gates are closed but we will be open by appointment only as we liquidate remaining plants, supplies and equipment. Our remaining plants are listed on our Live Inventory Page.
 
  [MORE INFO]