Beard Tongue / Firecracker

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Scientific Name: Penstemon eatonii

Common Name: Beard Tongue, Firecracker Penstemon
Family: Plantaginaceae

Duration: Perennial

Size: Up to 2½ feet or more.
Growth Form: Forb/herb; stems coarse, purplish.
Leaves: Green, deep green; tough, leaves in pairs, narrowly lanceolate to ovate, sessile, clasping stems, margins entire, upper stem leaves greatly reduced.
Flower Color: Red, scarlet; flowers showy, tubular or salver form, glabrous, flowers on short green or reddish pedicels; upper flowers from leaf axils; calyx short and green.

Flowering Season: February to June.

Comments: Penstemon eatonii is one of our larger, more robust, drought tolerant Penstemons in the southwest. As with many other tubular Penstemons, particularly red, this species readily attracts hummingbirds.  Both the plants and seeds are readily available and easy to grow.