Smooth Penstemon

Smooth Penstemon is the rare perennial flower with four season interest. The plant blooms early, and its white blossoms are often the only flowers blooming along with purple Spiderworts in prairies at the start of summer. In the fall, the plant turns a spectacular maroon, and the leaves at the base of the plant often remain red and green over winter. The upright seedpods change from red to brown over the season, and they hang on the plant through winter. Smooth Penstemon can develop a non-serious leaf spot disease some years. Tolerates clay as long as it's not too wet.

• Consider deadheading spent flowers to prolong blooming period
• Can occasionally develop a non-lethal leaf spot disease in some years