Palmer's Penstemon. Penstemon palmeri, Snapdragon or Figwort Family: ( Scrophulariaceae ), Palmer's Penstemon. Also called: Palmer's Penstemon, Pink Wild Snapdragon, Balloon Flower, Scented Penstemon, Monster Penstemon. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. A low evergreen perennial whose leaves are gray, blue - green, triangular, and toothed. Its upper leaf bases are joined together around its tall stems. It has fragrant, large-mouthed flowers with 2 upper pink lobes and 3 reflexed, pink, magenta-lined lower lobes. Bumblebees like to crawl into the large fuzzy flowers. In Arizona it naturally grows at elevations between 4,000 and 6,000 feet. Its nectar smells like honey. Quick Notes: Height: About 2 - 3 feet in height. The branching flower spikes can reach 6� tall. Flowers: The flowers are on a spike, they are light blue to light pink, & fragrant. They are 1 - 2 inches in size, funnel-shaped, with short round lobes. The corolla is about 3/4 inch long, glandular and hairy on the outside. It has a broad upper corolla with a 2 - lobed lip, bent upward. The lower corolla lip is 3 - lobed and bent downward. There are 5 stamens, the fifth is sterile but bearded at the tip. Blooming Time: April - June. Stalk: Several erect, sparsely leaved stems with pinkish-lavender, bilaterally symmetrical flowers in a long, open, interrupted cluster. Up to 6 feet tall. Leaves: Green to blue - green, fleshy, about 2 - 5 inches long, lanceolate, without stalks, smooth, those at the midstem are broadest at the base. Found: The USDA claims it is native to the USA (AZ, CA, CO, ID, NM, NV, UT, WA, WY). Native to Arizona in Coconino, Mohave, Navajo, & Yavapai counties. It is found in Mexico in Baja Norte, Baja California, Chihuahua, & Coahuila. Elevation: Native elevation about 4,000 to 6,000 feet in desert mountain elevations in Arizona. We have seen this growing wild at 5,565 feet elevation. Hardiness: USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 �C (-30 �F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 �C (-25 �F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 �C (-20 �F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 �C (-15 �F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 �C (-10 �F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 �C (-5 �F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 �C (0 �F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 �C (5 �F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 �C (10 �F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 �C (40 �F) Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Some Shade Habitat: Chalky/alkaline, Dry, Sandy, Well-drained/light soils. An ideal landscape plant in Arizona. Miscellaneous: Will grow in low elevation xeriscape gardens. Flowering Photos Taken At Glendale, Arizona. April 16, 2008.

We Are Proud Of Our SafeSurf Rating!

We Are Proud Of Our SafeSurf Rating!

Click On Any Of The Following Links By Amazon.Com
For Books, & Videos About Xerioscape Plants Of Arizona & The Southwest USA. No Obligation!