Gulf Coast Penstemon April 13, 2013

This Gulf Coast Penstemon is growing in a shady spot, but I also have it growing in full sun.  It does very well in both shade and sun.  This penstemon is evergreen, and it reseeds prolifically.  It takes a few seasons to get big enough to bloom from seed.  And during that time it sort of looks like a weed.  But if you can wait for it to get past its awkward stage, it is a very rewarding plant to grow.  Like many perennials, it is two weeks of glory and 50 weeks of nothing.  But it is a Texas native and easy to grow.  I recommend cutting off most of the spent blooms so they don't have time to form seed heads.  They produce millions of seeds that sprout into an unruly mess if you don't deadhead.