Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Flowering Plants
Origin
Southern Africa
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, North-Central United States, Central United States
Types
Perennial
Penstemon
Number of Varieties
5015
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Fields, open Woodlands, Wood Margins
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-103-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
8-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
61.30 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Dark Red
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Dark Red
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Dark Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Lance-shaped to oblong
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Root Division, Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Complete balanced fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Leaf spot, Root rot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Allergy
Skin irritation
Mild Allergen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Borders, Wild gardens
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Tooth ache
Part of Plant Used
Root
Root
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Cutflower, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
PENSTEMON digitalis 'Husker Red'
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Husker Red Penstemon, Talus Slope Penstemon
In Hindi
African Iris
Talus Slope Penstemon
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Gehängeschutt Penstemon
In French
African Iris
Talus Slope Penstemon
In Spanish
Iris africano
Astrágalo pendiente Penstemon
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
Αστράγαλος Κλίση Penstemon
In Portuguese
Iris africano
Talus Penstemon Slope
In Polish
Afryki Iris
Talus Slope Penstemon
In Latin
African Iris
Talus Clivo Persicaria
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Scrophulariales
Family
Iridaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Genus
Dietes
Penstemon
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Irideae
-
Subfamily
Iridoideae
-
Number of Species
300280
1
27800
👆🏻