Practical
Plants

Penstemon confertus

Yellow Penstemon

a perennial evergreen member of the Penstemon genus in the family Scrophulariaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A tea-like beverage is made by boiling the dried leaves and stems for a short time[3][4][5][9]. If made too strong, it can have a purgative effect on the body[9].

Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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].

Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Salve
Product or use
Stomachic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The flowers can be boiled and then rubbed on items to give them an indelible blue colouring[9].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

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[10]. Dry sandy pinewoods[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in ordinary rich garden soils so long as they are well-drained[1]. Succeeds in dry soils. Requires a position in full sun[6]. Very cold hardy, but some protection from winter wet is beneficial for this plant[1]. Plants are evergreen in mild winters[8].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  2. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩

  3. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  6. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

  8. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  10. Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00

    ↩

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