Pineleaf Penstemon
Penstemon pinifolius
Pineleaf Penstemon (Penstemon pinifolius) is a Colorado-native perennial suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 12 to 18 in tall and 12 to 18 in wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Needle-fine evergreen foliage; coral tubular flowers; hummingbird favorite.
Colorado nativeOn the CSU listlow water12 to 18 in tall and 12 to 18 in wideXeric / water-wiseLow ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 8/10Deer-resistant
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) Andrew Tree, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 2: (c) Daniel McNair, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 3: Kurt Stüber [1], Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
- Photo 4: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
- Photo 5: Patrick Alexander https://www.inaturalist.org/people/aspidoscelis, Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3 to 8
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.5 to 8.0
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Site uses
- Slopes & erosion control, Hellstrips / parking strips, Hot south- or west-facing walls
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 12 to 18 in tall and 12 to 18 in wide
- Planting spacing
- ~13 to 18 in apart
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- early summer, mid summer
- Bloom color
- red, orange
- Bloom length
- Long (several weeks)
- Foliage
- Evergreen
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- Yes
- Native ecoregion
- foothills
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Low ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 8/10
Planting & establishment
Deep-water first season to establish, then minimal water needed.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Pineleaf Penstemon good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Pineleaf Penstemon is a well-suited perennial for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Pineleaf Penstemon get?
- It matures to about 12 to 18 in tall and 12 to 18 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant Pineleaf Penstemon?
- Space Pineleaf Penstemon about 13 in apart for a faster, fuller bed, or up to 18 in apart for a looser planting.
- Is Pineleaf Penstemon hardy on the Front Range?
- Pineleaf Penstemon is hardy in USDA 3 to 8. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Pineleaf Penstemon need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is Pineleaf Penstemon native to Colorado?
- Yes. It is a Colorado native.
- Is Pineleaf Penstemon deer-resistant?
- Pineleaf Penstemon is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Pineleaf Penstemon a good firewise plant near the house?
- Pineleaf Penstemon is rated 8 of 10 in CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), where higher means less ignitable, so it can go within 0 to 5 feet of the house as well as out to 30 feet when kept watered and tidy. This is general guidance based on CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- How long does Pineleaf Penstemon bloom?
- Pineleaf Penstemon blooms for several weeks, a long-season performer on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
