Firecracker Penstemon Seeds

Firecracker Penstemon

Scientific Name: Penstemon eatonii

Bloom Period: Mid-spring to early summer (some sources note as early as late winter in low desert); scarlet red
Mature Height: 1.5–3 ft | Mature Spread: 1–2 ft

Planting

• When: Direct sow in late fall - winter delivers natural cold stratification. If sowing in spring instead, seeds need a 30–60 day period of cold, moist stratification in the refrigerator first.
• Where: Full sun; must have excellent drainage - thrives in sandy or gravelly soil and struggles wherever water sits
• How: Press seed onto the soil surface and do not cover - it needs light to germinate. If sowing outdoors and lightly covering, keep the depth to about ⅛ inch. Keep lightly moist until germination, which typically takes 21-45 days.

Growing Tips

• Don't expect blooms the first year - the plant spends its first season building a root system and basal rosette, with flower stalks arriving in year two.
• Avoid overwatering and overfertilizing - this species is built for lean, dry conditions.
• If nothing has sprouted by 3 weeks, don't give up - give it another 2-3 weeks before assuming failure.

Care

• Reseeds freely - clip spent flower stalks after the final bloom if you want to control spread, or leave them standing for winter texture and self-seeding
• The evergreen basal rosette stays attractive through summer and fall, so the plant never fully disappears from the landscape
• Hummingbirds are strongly drawn to the tubular red blooms

Safety

• Toxicity: Not listed as toxic on the ASPCA plant database
• Pet Safe (Dogs): Yes, based on available toxicity data - same profile as other Penstemon species

Packet contains 500mg of seeds