You could also choose the lower-growing Penstemon eatonii, commonly known as the firecracker. This variety has a slightly more shrubby habit, growing up to 3 feet tall in hardiness zones 4 through 8.

Every gardener needs this kind of workhorse in the garden, and for many, the obvious choice to fill this niche is beardtongue (Penstemon spp.). It comes in many varieties, meaning there is one for ...

A low-growing perennial that favors sandy washes and dunes, the white-margined penstemon has pretty pink flowers and leaves with white margins. It is threatened with extinction by urban sprawl, energy ...