# @ahs_gardening on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DIMCVoAyT1S
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/55035983-ahs-gardening-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/743315034e.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-04-08T13:57:13.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Horticultural Society | American Gardener Magazine (@ahs_gardening) — https://gondola.cc/ahs_gardening

## Caption

🌸 Native Plant of the Week: Desert Penstemon (Penstemon pseudospectabilis, Zones 5–8)⁠
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There are about 280 species in the Penstemon genus—native to every state in the continental U.S., plus parts of Canada and Mexico. That’s a whole lot of beardtongue beauty. From ground-hugging mats to five-foot wonders, penstemons come in nearly every size and bloom in vibrant blues, purples, reds, pinks, yellows, and creams.⁠
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If you’re gardening in the American Southwest, desert penstemon is a must. Native to the canyons and deserts of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and SoCal, this drought-hardy stunner grows up to five feet tall and produces hundreds of vivid pink blooms from April to July—with a bonus rebloom in fall.⁠
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Desert penstemon thrives in well-drained soil and full or part sun. It’s tailor-made for water-wise gardens—and it’s a pollinator magnet, drawing in hummingbirds, native bees, and even hawk moths.⁠
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🌱 Pro tip: Individual plants usually live about three years, but they self-seed easily, so you’ll likely have a fresh crop coming up on their own.⁠
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💡 Fun Fact: The american_penstemon_society recommends this one for beginners looking to explore this wildly diverse (and underrated) genus.⁠
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—Mary⁠
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🗞️ This beauty was featured in The American Gardener magazine’s article “The Beauty of Beardtongues” by Larry Deaven (July/August 2021). Dig into our archives at ahsgardening.org.⁠
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📸 Photos by Larry Deaven, James M. Maley / iNaturalist, and Plant Select⁠
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👉 Have you grown penstemon? Got a favorite species? Tell us in the comments!⁠
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#PenstemonPower #DesertPenstemon #NativePlants #WaterWiseGardening #SouthwestGardens #BeeFriendly #HummingbirdGarden #GardenInspo #TheAmericanGardener #PollinatorParadise #PlantLove #GardenNerdsUnite⁠
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## Tags

gardennerdsunite, waterwisegardening, hummingbirdgarden, southwestgardens, penstemonpower, pollinatorparadise, theamericangardener, gardeninspo, desertpenstemon, plantlove, nativeplants, beefriendly

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