Penstemon 'Garnet' (Beard Tongue) - It is an evergreen perennial or sub-shrub with a spreading form to 2 feet tall with slender stems clothed with narrow lance-shaped dark green leaves. The trumpet-shaped garnet-red flowers with red-striped throats are in held on dense spikes. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies into the garden.

Plant in full sun along the coast and provide some light shade inland. Tolerates and even thrives in poor soils and alkaline conditions but requires relatively good drainage

Pinch plants after the first bloom to promote a quick re-bloom and cut back hard in winter to encourage a new flush of dense growth in spring.

While extremely showy, Border Penstemons are notably short lived and for plantings to look best, they should be replanted every 3-5 years.