Midnight Blue - Beardtongue (Penstemon)

Midnight Blue is a clumping, upright selection of Rocky Mountain beardtongue, with deep blue to violet-blue tubular flowers and pale throats. Its exact cultivar listing gives a mature range of 18–24 inches tall and wide and bloom from June through August; the flowers attract bees and hummingbirds. ## Growing Conditions The cultivar profile recommends full sun and lists low-to-moderate soil moisture, with rocky, sandy, loamy, well-drained soils. It also identifies the plant as deer- and rabbit-resistant and suitable for borders, containers, cut flowers, naturalizing, and water-wise gardens. [SiteOne’s exact Midnight Blue listing](https://www.siteone.com/en/75734b-penstemon-strictus-midnight-blue-rocky-mountain-beardtongue/p/906842) provides the selection-specific measurements and characteristics. Colorado State University Extension identifies Penstemon strictus as drought tolerant while noting that it benefits from good spring moisture when conditions are dry; the species also needs well-aerated soil and can suffer crown rot in wet ground. [CSU Extension’s growing guide](https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/growing-penstemons/) provides broader species care. ## Maintenance Plant in well-drained soil, water during establishment, and provide supplemental moisture in spring if rainfall is limited. Avoid prolonged wet soil and overwatering after flowering. Remove spent flower stalks for tidier appearance, or leave some seed capsules to mature if you want to encourage reseeding.