The Dazzling Blue Flower That'll Have Hummingbirds & Butterflies Flocking To Your Yard

Once you start a pollinator garden, it can become addictive. Finding new plants to keep hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators flocking to your yard becomes a mission. So, you will definitely want to seek out Rocky Mountain penstemon (Penstemon strictus), which will do more than just bring hummingbirds and butterflies flocking to your yard. It will add dazzling blue blooms to delight humans as well. 

As the name implies, this penstemon is native to the Rocky Mountains, ranging from Wyoming down to Arizona and New Mexico. Anyone just learning how to start a pollinator garden knows that natives are a critical part of supporting wildlife, and this one is a no-brainer. Sometimes called Rocky Mountain beardtongue, this plant grows tall spikes of tubular blue flowers, a shape that is a favorite of hummingbirds. As a particularly easy-to-grow native, it tends to naturalize over time. From May through June, it will fill your garden with bright blooms that are irresistible to the beautiful pollinators. Butterfly species like the painted lady and checkered white are especially fond of this plant, as it provides rich nectar to help fuel them as well as hummingbirds. 

Frankly, there's not a lot you need to know to successfully add this plant to your garden. Growing to more than 3 feet tall, Rocky Mountain penstemon thrives in full sun and dry, light soils. However, this plant has a reputation for being adaptable. If you have heavy soil, don't worry, this particular variety is more tolerant of heavy soils than many others. It can also tolerate some shade. Still, if you want it to thrive, consider amending your soil to give it the best chances. Once they are established, Rocky Mountain penstemons are drought tolerant and hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 8, so giving them a good start will mean you can enjoy them relatively maintenance-free for years to come.

These plants tend to naturalize, meaning they spread easily through seeding themselves. If you want to control their growth, deadheading spent blooms is recommended. You can divide penstemon in the early spring to propagate the plant in a slightly more controlled manner. Combining Rocky Mountain penstemon with other plants that hummingbirds love will keep your garden humming with activity, but they pair especially well with plants like yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). These plants are also common sights in pollinator-friendly areas. If the primary goal is to attract pollinators, avoid these mistakes when creating your garden to ensure success.