Which penstemon survives a Victor Valley winter, and how to keep it from rotting.
Get a Free Planting PlanYes. Palmer’s penstemon and firecracker penstemon both grow well in the High Desert: they are California desert natives, hardy to 0F or colder by most sources, and rated low water for our region. Give them full sun, fast-draining soil and very little summer water. Parry’s penstemon is only hardy to about 15F, so treat it as a gamble here.
Top photo: Photo: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Perennial · Penstemon palmeri, P. eatonii and P. parryi · Also called Palmer’s Penstemon, Scented Penstemon, Firecracker Penstemon, Eaton’s Firecracker, Scarlet Bugler, Parry’s Penstemon, Beardtongue · Palmer’s and firecracker penstemon are native to California’s desert mountains; Parry’s penstemon is native to southern Arizona and northern Mexico
| Penstemon at a glance in the High Desert | |
|---|---|
| Type and size at maturity | Evergreen perennial. Palmer’s makes a 1 ft basal rosette with flower spikes 4 to 6 ft tall. Parry’s stays under 10 in with 3 ft stalks (MSWN). Firecracker grows about 2 ft tall and wide (SB County) [3] |
| Growth rate | Fast for Palmer’s and Parry’s (MSWN). Calscape lists Palmer’s and firecracker as moderate (Calscape) [3] |
| Water once established | Low (WUCOLS IV, Region 5, High and Intermediate Desert, for Southwestern native penstemon species). Garden hybrid penstemons are rated Moderate [6] |
| Sun | Full sun for firecracker penstemon; shade makes it sprawl. Palmer’s and Parry’s take full sun to part shade [5] |
| Cold hardiness | Palmer’s: -30F, zone 4 (MSWN) to -5F (Calscape). Firecracker: 0F (SB County) to 20F (Calscape). Parry’s: only 15F, zone 8 (MSWN) [3] |
| Soil | Fast-draining sand or decomposed granite [2] |
| Bloom | Parry’s: hot pink, February to early April. Firecracker: scarlet, February to June (SB County). Palmer’s: pale pink and fragrant, March to September (MSWN) [4] |
| Evergreen or deciduous | Evergreen. The dark green basal leaves of firecracker penstemon stay up all year [5] |
| Pets | Not listed by the ASPCA; check with your vet [7] |
| Wildlife | Palmer’s feeds Costa’s, Calliope and Rufous hummingbirds and supports 34 native bee species [1] |
| Rabbits and deer | Calscape lists Palmer’s and firecracker penstemon as deer resistant (firecracker). No rabbit rating found [1] |
| Where it fits | Mass plantings, or accents against cacti, boulders and rock walls [5] |
These three look alike as small rosettes in nursery pots. They are not equal once a January cold snap hits the Victor Valley.
| Trait | Palmer’s penstemon | Firecracker penstemon | Parry’s penstemon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical name | Penstemon palmeri | Penstemon eatonii | Penstemon parryi |
| Cold hardiness | -30F, zone 4 (MSWN); -5F (Calscape) | 0F (SB County); 20F (Calscape) | 15F, zone 8 (MSWN) |
| High Desert verdict | Safe through our winters | Safe in most winters | Borderline: can be lost in a hard freeze |
| Flower | Pale pink, fragrant | Scarlet tubes | Hot pink |
| Bloom | March to September (MSWN) | February to June (SB County) | February to early April (MSWN) |
| Size | 1 ft rosette, 4 to 6 ft spikes | 2 ft tall and wide, 2 to 4 ft stalks | Rosette under 10 in, 3 ft stalks |
| Sun | Full sun to part shade | Full sun (shade makes it sprawl) | Full sun, takes some filtered shade |
| California native? | Yes, desert mountains of Inyo and San Bernardino counties (Calscape) | Yes, higher deserts of southern and eastern California (Calscape) | No, southern Arizona to northern Mexico (MSWN) |
Palmer’s penstemon is the safest pick for Hesperia, Victorville, Apple Valley and Phelan. It grows wild in Joshua tree woodland (Calscape). Firecracker is the red one hummingbirds chase. Parry’s blooms early and looks great, but it comes from warmer country in Arizona. Where sources disagree on cold hardiness, plan around the more cautious number.
The Victor Valley is USDA zone 8b. The average coldest night lands between 15F and 20F, and record lows are near 0F. See our High Desert frost dates and growing zones guide for the full numbers.
Heat is not the weak spot; wet soil is. Wind is the other thing to plan for. Palmer’s stalks reach 4 to 6 feet and bloom through the windy months of March to June, so a spot on the lee side of a wall or boulder keeps them standing.
Drainage decides whether a penstemon lives or rots. Mountain States Wholesale Nursery says good drainage is key with almost all penstemons. Calscape calls for fast-draining sand or decomposed granite for firecracker penstemon, and San Bernardino County warns that overwatering can rot it.
Sandy, alkaline High Desert soil suits penstemon. The trouble spots are caliche and compacted pads where water sits in the hole. Before planting:
Our High Desert soils guide covers caliche and how to test drainage.
Plant in fall so roots settle in over the cool months, or in spring after the median last freeze around March 18 in Victorville. One year in ten the last freeze lands after April 12, so keep frost cloth handy.
WUCOLS IV rates Southwestern native penstemon species as low water in Region 5, the High and Intermediate Desert. Garden hybrids are rated moderate, one more reason to buy the native species. Calscape lists firecracker penstemon at very low water, with summer irrigation no more than once a month once established.
A simple plan on drip:
Keep penstemon off the drip valve that feeds lawn or thirsty shrubs. Our High Desert irrigation guide explains how to zone drip by water need. Yellow lower leaves and a soft crown usually mean too much water.
San Bernardino County suggests planting firecracker penstemon in masses for a big display, or as accents against cacti, boulders or rock walls.
Plant in groups of three or more; one rosette disappears in a big gravel bed. For more low-water plant ideas, see our xeriscaping guide.
Peak bloom: Parry’s from February to early April, firecracker from February into June. Keep water light and check drip lines for leaks after winter.
Remove spent flower spikes to keep plants tidy, or leave a few if you want seedlings; Palmer’s reseeds readily. Collect dry seed capsules in summer to grow new plants.
Good time to plant new penstemon so roots settle in before the next summer. Cut back summer watering as nights cool.
Little or no irrigation. Evergreen rosettes stay green. Cover Parry’s penstemon with frost cloth on nights forecast near 15F.
Yes. WUCOLS IV rates Southwestern native penstemon species as low water in the High and Intermediate Desert. Once established, a deep soak every two to four weeks in summer is usually enough. Garden hybrid penstemons need more water.
It depends on the species. Palmer’s penstemon is rated to -30F by one grower and -5F by Calscape. Firecracker penstemon is rated to 0F by San Bernardino County. Parry’s penstemon is only rated to 15F, which puts it at risk in a hard High Desert winter.
Penstemon is not listed by the ASPCA as toxic or non-toxic. Check with your vet if your dog chews on plants.
Mountain States Wholesale Nursery rates Palmer’s and Parry’s penstemon as fast growing. Calscape lists Palmer’s and firecracker as moderate.
Fall is best, so roots settle in over the cool months. Spring planting also works after the median last freeze around March 18 in Victorville, but late freezes can land into April.
We checked every number on this page against the public sources below. If a rule or date changes, the agency page is the final word.
Monarch designs and installs rockscape, drip irrigation and drought-tolerant plantings across the High Desert. We will check sun, wind and soil on your lot and tell you where a plant will do well and where it will struggle.
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