Rocky Mountain Penstemon Seeds – Blue Perennial Flowers

Brilliant Blue Flowers for a Water-Wise Garden

Rocky Mountain penstemon (Penstemon strictus) brings vivid blue, snapdragon-shaped flowers to wildflower gardens, rock gardens, and naturalized borders. Its approximately 1-inch blooms rise on 24–36 inch stems and attract bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.

This U.S.-native perennial is a useful choice for pollinator plantings and xeriscaping. Give young plants time to establish, then enjoy a drought-tolerant planting that usually begins flowering in its second year.

Plant Highlights

• Botanical name: Penstemon strictus.
• Common name: Rocky Mountain penstemon.
• Life cycle: Perennial.
• Flowers: Blue, snapdragon-shaped blooms approximately 1 inch long.
• Flowering stems: Approximately 24–36 inches tall.
• Light: Sun to partial sun.
• Soil: Well-drained soil; tolerates poor soil.
• Water needs: Drought tolerant once established; avoid persistently wet soil.
• Garden uses: Rock gardens, beds, borders, pollinator plantings, and naturalized areas.

How to Sow

Late-Fall Sowing

Direct sow outdoors in late fall. Press seeds onto the soil surface rather than burying them, as light is needed for germination.

Spring Sowing

Before spring sowing, mix seeds with moist sand and refrigerate for 30–60 days. After this cold-moist treatment, surface sow and keep the soil lightly moist until germination.

Seeds may also be started indoors 6–8 weeks before planned spring planting, allowing additional time beforehand for the cold-moist treatment.

Growing and Care

Water seedlings while they become established. Growth can be slow at first, with flowering usually beginning in the second year. Mature plants tolerate drought but benefit from occasional watering during especially dry weather.

Do not overwater: persistently moist soil can lead to root rot. After flowering, cut plants back to several inches above the soil unless you want to allow seed to mature. Plants may self-sow in suitable conditions.

Cut Flowers

Choose stems with flowers that have just opened. Strip any foliage that would sit below the waterline and place the stems in water immediately.

Available Seed Packs

Choose 500 seeds, 2,000 seeds, 1/4 oz, 1 oz, or 1/4 lb. The 1 oz option is listed at approximately 30,000 seeds; counts in weight-based packs may vary.