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Jun 5, 2013 2:57 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
I'm almost positive that this is Rocky Mountain Penstemon, but would like another opinion, just to make sure. If it is, I'll be thrilled! I found this growing wild a couple of miles from my house, and would love to take some cuttings from it. I just don't know how to go about doing that. What I found online said to take soft stem cuttings in early summer. I'll be going back to look for seed later, but would love to get started before then! There were a few dried seedheads, but no seeds in them from what I could tell.

Any help would be most appreciated!

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Jun 5, 2013 3:28 PM CST
Moderator
Name: josephine
Arlington, Texas (Zone 8a)
Hi Everybody!! Let us talk native.
Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Butterflies Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Birds Cat Lover
Here is a link to Rocky Mountain Penstemon, Penstemon stricitus, it looks close to me but not sure.
http://www.wildflower.org/plan...
Wildflowers are the Smiles of Nature.
Gardening with Texas Native Plants and Wildflowers.
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Jun 5, 2013 3:38 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
Thanks Josephine. I'm not sure if it's that one either, but it could be. It sure is pretty! Have you ever grown it from cuttings? I think I'm going to give it a try.
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Jun 5, 2013 4:37 PM CST
Moderator
Name: josephine
Arlington, Texas (Zone 8a)
Hi Everybody!! Let us talk native.
Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Butterflies Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Birds Cat Lover
I have grown other penstemons from cuttings, but not that one. I don't think it would hurt to try it, Smiling
Wildflowers are the Smiles of Nature.
Gardening with Texas Native Plants and Wildflowers.
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Jun 5, 2013 5:02 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
A neighbor just stopped by and said a wolf just ran in front her her car very close to where these plants are! I think I'll wait a day or two to go get some cuttings! And, I'm taking my DH with me!

I've never grown penstemons from cuttings before. Any suggestions?
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Jun 6, 2013 1:05 PM CST
Moderator
Name: josephine
Arlington, Texas (Zone 8a)
Hi Everybody!! Let us talk native.
Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Butterflies Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Birds Cat Lover
Natalie, it is best with almost any plant to take cuttings from the tips of actively growing branches, so the plant is geared to putting the energy at the growing tip. I think that with a plant that is in full bloom most of the growing branches will be occupied with flowers.
However it is possible to root cuttings from farther down on the branch. Take cuttings with at least four nodes not counting the flowers.
Remove the flowers and the leaves from the two lower nodes and insert the cutting in a pot with nice loose water retentive soil, water well and place in the shade and keep it moist.
You might get lucky and get it to root.
Good luck!! Smiling
Wildflowers are the Smiles of Nature.
Gardening with Texas Native Plants and Wildflowers.
Image
Jun 6, 2013 2:42 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
Thanks Josephine! I'll give that a try! The info I found also said that it will root from hardwood cuttings later in summer, so if this doesn't work, I'll try that!
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Jun 18, 2013 3:44 PM CST
Name: Cinda
Indiana Zone 5b
Dances with Dirt
Beekeeper Bee Lover Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Cottage Gardener Herbs Wild Plant Hunter
Hummingbirder Butterflies Birds Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Organic Gardener Vegetable Grower
maybe you can get some seeds
I have had very good luck with several types of penstemon in the wintersowing method
..a balanced life is worth pursuit.
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Jun 18, 2013 3:52 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
I plan on doing that Cinda. I drive down to where they are every couple of days to look, but no seeds yet. A pack of wolves was in that area last week, and that has me afraid to get out of the truck right now anyway!
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Jun 18, 2013 5:43 PM CST
Moderator
Name: josephine
Arlington, Texas (Zone 8a)
Hi Everybody!! Let us talk native.
Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Butterflies Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Birds Cat Lover
Be safe Natalie, the seeds should take a while to mature and maybe you can get your husband to go with you to check them out Smiling
Wildflowers are the Smiles of Nature.
Gardening with Texas Native Plants and Wildflowers.
Image
Jun 18, 2013 7:04 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
Hubby is going with me because I gave him no choice! He usually goes with me when I go to look at the plants, just in case we get to see a wolf. I really wouldn't mind seeing one! Our property isn't fenced in yet, which is the only thing that really worries me, because we have dogs. One was seen a mile from us, and the pack was seen right in the area that these plants are. So, I don't want to take any chances. I seriously doubt that they would stick around if we were there, but I don't want to find out that I am wrong about that! They killed a neighbors lamb last week, so I guess that has me a little nervous.

OH! I almost forgot! I got a message from Kent, who is the one who approved the pictures that I posted here and then sent them to be added to the database. He was pretty sure that the are Venus Penstemon (Penstemon venustus), instead of Rocky Mountain Penstemon (Penstemon strictus). I can't tell the difference, but did have a few friends look at the pictures that know more about Rocky Mountain Penstemon, and they thought that was correct. It's so hard to tell many of them apart, but I trust that he knows what he's talking about. Either way, they grow here, and that makes me very happy!
Natalie
Last edited by Natalie Jun 18, 2013 7:05 PM Icon for preview
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Jun 18, 2013 7:35 PM CST
Moderator
Name: josephine
Arlington, Texas (Zone 8a)
Hi Everybody!! Let us talk native.
Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Butterflies Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Birds Cat Lover
Yes, Kent is very nice and knows a lot about plants. Smiling
Wildflowers are the Smiles of Nature.
Gardening with Texas Native Plants and Wildflowers.
Image
Jun 18, 2013 7:38 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
It was the leaves that convinced me, when he pointed out the edges on the one near me, compared to the smooth edges on the Rocky Mountain Penstemon. I really never noticed the difference! And yes, he was very nice!
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Jun 18, 2013 7:43 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
Josephine, I forgot to mention that I found the location of the closest Idaho Native Plants Society chapter, and it's about 55 miles away. Not too bad really, but I missed the plant sale in May, since I was still in Utah at that time. I'll be sure to make it to the next one though!
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Jun 18, 2013 7:48 PM CST
Moderator
Name: josephine
Arlington, Texas (Zone 8a)
Hi Everybody!! Let us talk native.
Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Butterflies Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Birds Cat Lover
Excellent, be sure to check their website you can learn a lot that way. Smiling
Wildflowers are the Smiles of Nature.
Gardening with Texas Native Plants and Wildflowers.
Image
Jun 18, 2013 7:54 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
Thumbs up I've been doing just that! I've learned a lot too, which is great! It's been a really good place to learn what I should plant here for shrubs and trees, as well as wildflowers. I'm having to learn everything all over again, since this is a much different climate than where I was before. It's much better, too!
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Jun 18, 2013 9:28 PM CST
Moderator
Name: josephine
Arlington, Texas (Zone 8a)
Hi Everybody!! Let us talk native.
Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Butterflies Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Birds Cat Lover
That sounds wonderful and a lot of fun too. Smiling
Wildflowers are the Smiles of Nature.
Gardening with Texas Native Plants and Wildflowers.
Image
Jun 19, 2013 2:11 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
I think it's safe to check out the flowers again, outside of the truck. The wolves are just below our house! YIKES!!! I can't believe that I got to see them! There are two, and one is HUGE!
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Jun 19, 2013 2:37 PM CST
Moderator
Name: josephine
Arlington, Texas (Zone 8a)
Hi Everybody!! Let us talk native.
Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Butterflies Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Birds Cat Lover
I would be very sacred too.
Wildflowers are the Smiles of Nature.
Gardening with Texas Native Plants and Wildflowers.
Image
Jun 19, 2013 3:20 PM CST
Name: Cinda
Indiana Zone 5b
Dances with Dirt
Beekeeper Bee Lover Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Cottage Gardener Herbs Wild Plant Hunter
Hummingbirder Butterflies Birds Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Organic Gardener Vegetable Grower
I would be honored to see such a creature in the wild , think it might just be so beautiful , like a whole field of truly wild flowers.

You need to keep a camera handy and share if you spot them Smiling
..a balanced life is worth pursuit.

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