Life Span
Perennial
  
Annual
  
Type
Flowering Plants
  
Vegetable
  
Origin
Southwestern United States, Mexico
  
Central America, Mexico
  
Types
Not Available
  
Slicing, Pickling and burpless
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Alpine Meadows, moist forests, Open areas
  
Floodplains, Wet forest
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
  
7-8
  
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
  
12-1
  
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
  
A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Vining/Climbing
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Pink
  
Yellow, Gold
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Brown
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Green, Dark Green, Yellow green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
  
Heart-shaped
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer
  
Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Very Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
  
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Pollution
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Container, Ground
  
How to Plant?
Layering, Root Division, Stem Cutting
  
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering
  
Keep ground moist, Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
cut main flower spike, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, remove old stems before spring
  
Prune after flowering, Remove shoots
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Compost, organic fertlizers
  
Pests and Diseases
chrysanthemum eelworms, Slugs, Snails
  
Bacteria wilt, Fungal Diseases, fungus, Fusarium wilt, Leaf spot, Striped cucumber beetles
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Cold climate
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Coarse
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
  
Ants, Birds, Flying insects, Insects, Rats, Squirrels
  
Allergy
Unknown
  
Throat itching, Vomiting
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Ornamental use, Water gardening
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
None
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
  
Food for animals, Food for birds
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
Antioxidants, Combats Stress, Fiber, Improve heart health, Indigestion, Inflammation, Rich in Iron
  
Part of Plant Used
Not Applicable
  
Fruits, Seeds
  
Other Uses
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, deer resistant
  
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
  
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
  
Botanical Name
PENSTEMON barbatus 'Elfin Pink'
  
MELOTHRIA scabra
  
Common Name
Beardlip Penstemon, Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
Mexican Sour Gherkins, cucamelon
  
In Hindi
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
Mousemelon
  
In German
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
Maus Melone
  
In French
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
Mousemelon
  
In Spanish
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
Mousemelon
  
In Greek
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
πεπόνι ποντίκι
  
In Portuguese
Elfin Penstemon -de-rosa
  
melão rato
  
In Polish
Elfin Różowy Penstemon
  
mysz melona
  
In Latin
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
mouse melon
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Angiosperms
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Lamiales
  
Cucurbitales
  
Family
Scrophulariaceae
  
Cucurbitaceae
  
Genus
Penstemon
  
Cucumis
  
Clade
Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Melothrieae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Cucurbitoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available