Penstemon confertus
| Penstemon confertus | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Penstemon confertus (common name: yellow penstemon)
Propagation: Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse[1]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in late spring.
Alternatively, the seed can be sown in early summer in a greenhouse, the seedlings overwintered in the greenhouse and then planted out in the following spring[1].
Division in autumn[2].
Cuttings can be taken throughout the growing season, though August/September is best[1].
Cultivation: Succeeds in ordinary rich garden soils so long as they are well-drained[1]. Succeeds in dry soils. Requires a position in full sun[3].
Very cold hardy, but some protection from winter wet is beneficial for this plant[1]. Plants are evergreen in mild winters[4].
Range: Western N. America.
Habitat: Fairly moist open or wooded places, often in meadows or by streams, in lowland and foothills to moderate elevations in the Rockies[5]. Dry sandy pinewoods[4].
Edibility: A tea-like beverage is made by boiling the dried leaves and stems for a short time[6][7][8][9]. If made too strong, it can have a purgative effect on the body[9].
Medicinal: A strong decoction of the root is purgative[9].
A decoction of the outer bark has been used in the treatment of stomach troubles[9].
The roasted and powdered stems and leaves have been used as a dressing on sores, cuts and wounds[9].
Usage: The flowers can be boiled and then rubbed on items to give them an indelible blue colouring[9].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Sanders, Thomas. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge, 1926.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Hitchcock, Leo. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, 1955.
- ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.