Minimum: 50+ Seeds
Payette Penstemon Open Pollinated Seeds (Penstemon payettensis)
Ethereal violet blooms, mountain-hardy roots, a native wildflower that thrives on tough terrain and calls pollinators home.
Payette Penstemon (Penstemon payettensis) is a rugged yet refined wildflower native to the mountains of the Pacific Northwest, especially Idaho’s Payette region. With upright stalks topped by clusters of delicate violet-blue tubular flowers, this open-pollinated perennial is a magnet for hummingbirds, native bees, and butterflies, all while being perfectly content in rocky, well-drained soils with little care.
This is a true low-maintenance beauty built for dry slopes, native meadows, alpine gardens, and other lean-soil landscapes where traditional ornamentals fail. Its subtle charm and strong performance make it a favorite for pollinator restoration projects, naturalistic plantings, and wild gardens seeking structure and color.
🌱 How to Grow Payette Penstemon:
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Sunlight: Full sun to light shade
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Soil: Rocky, sandy, or poor soil with sharp drainage
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Watering: Drought-tolerant once established
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Height: 12–24 inches tall
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Spacing: 12–16 inches apart
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Cold Hardiness: USDA zones 4–8
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Germination Tips: Cold stratify seeds for 30–60 days or sow in fall for natural overwintering. Seeds germinate in 2–4 weeks after stratification.
🌸 Why Gardeners and Ecologists Love It:
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Clusters of soft violet-blue blooms from late spring to early summer
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Excellent nectar source for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies
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Naturally adapted to high elevations and poor soils
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Deer-resistant and rabbit-resistant
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Provides structure in wildflower mixes or rock gardens
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Native to Idaho and surrounding mountainous regions
🌿 Uses:
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Native plant and pollinator gardens
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Dry meadows, mountain landscapes, or rocky slopes
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Bee and butterfly habitats
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Ecological restoration and rewilding
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Low-water alpine or xeriscape designs
A True Mountain Spirit in Bloom
Payette Penstemon brings elegance to rugged spaces, with soft color and graceful form that belie its mountain-tough roots. Whether you’re curating a native wildscape or adding pollinator-friendly structure to a dry bed, this species offers beauty, resilience, and deep ecological value.