Who needs a blue poppy when you have this tough native?

Blue flower

As a true plant geek, I'll admit that I'm a sucker for blue flowers. Impressive, truly blue flower is rare in nature. Maybe that's why I've been drawn to them over the years. When I lived in Southeast Alaska, Himalayan blue poppies (Meconopsis spp., zones 5–8) My favorite is blue flowers. Unfortunately, their climatic requirements require them to live in temperate rain forests or the high grasslands of the Himalayas for successful cultivation.

These conditions are very difficult to duplicate in most of North America. What's the solution to a nice, true blue flower that's tough as nails? I recommend the 'Electric Blue' base penstemon. The genus name of this beauty is derived from two Greek words: penta, meaning "five" and stamen, meaning "stamen". Thus, each flower has five stamens; Four are fertile and one is sterile. Another common name, bearded tongue, refers to the hairs of the sterile anther. Penstemon is a large flowering species native to North America and its members

Occupying a wide range of habitats, most grow in the western states. Foothill penstemon is native to California's scorching hot Sierra Nevada foothills, growing in open oak forests and grasslands. 'Electric Blue' was selected for its uniform, true-blue flowers.

It is a clump-forming perennial with evergreen foliage. The flowering period is from late spring to summer, and if the plant is cut after flowering, it can decorate your garden with another flower in late summer. This species prefers and does best in full sun with fast-draining, sterile (sand or gravel) soil. Avoid growing it in wet, poorly drained soil, which can cause root rot and shorten its lifespan. Also, avoid over fertilization; Water-soluble, chemical fertilizers stimulate vigorous growth at the expense of plant longevity.

Foothill penstemon is very drought tolerant once established, but will thrive with infrequent, deep summer watering. A bonus is thatResistant to deer and rabbits. Like all penstemons, it attracts hummingbirds and all kinds of bees and butterflies. I plant 'Electric Blue' in a hillside rock garden with other drought and heat loving perennials. I mixed pumice into my heavy clay soil to improve drainage and mulched the wet, Willamette plant crowns with varying amounts of gravel to help them drain well. Valley winter. I am so delighted with the vivid blue flowers they provide that I almost forget about longing for my beloved Meconopsis.

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