Penstemon pinifolius Mersea Yellow - Beardtongue

The Penstemon pinifolius 'Mersea Yellow' is a beautiful yellow variety of the Pineleaf Beardtongue, an evergreen undershrub with green needle-like foliage. Less common in our gardens than its hybrid cousins, this pretty little beardtongue is perfect for adding touches of light and cheerfulness to the garden. Its light abundance of delicate bright yellow flowers is welcome in late summer. They appear just above a tuft of fine, evergreen, light green foliage. This penstemon is perfect for border planting or in a sunny rockery, where it will eventually form charming spreading cushions. It is planted in light, well-drained soil. Drought-resistant, it remains frost-sensitive, and its outdoor cultivation is reserved for mild climate regions. Elsewhere, it should be protected at the first signs of cold or reserved for pot cultivation that will be stored away for the winter.

The Penstemon pinifolius is an evergreen undershrub belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae. It originates from the Southwestern United States, particularly New Mexico and Arizona. Its needle-like foliage recognizes it, hence the name Pineleaf Beardtongue. It forms a low, spreading cushion, measuring about 30 cm (12in) in height and 60 cm (24in) in width. The variety 'Mersea Yellow' has retained many of the characteristics of this plant. Depending on the climate, it forms a dense, persistent to semi-persistent tuft consisting of fine, linear, light green foliage, from which floral stems emerge in the second half of summer. The flowers in long tubular bells are individually distributed along the stem. They display a bright yellow hue, both soft and vibrant. A multitude of seeds are dispersed after flowering.

The Penstemon pinifolius is still relatively underused in gardens. Yet it would be such a shame to miss out on this charming species! The Mersea Yellow cultivar is wonderful in a border of well-drained beds, in front of shrubby salvias, linear plants, and grasses like Stipa tenuifolia or Muhlenbergia capillaris. This cheerful, wild-looking plant can accompany annual poppies, blue aster flowers, and damask nigellas. As a rockery and well-drained soil plant, it integrates perfectly into mineral atmospheres, gravel gardens, on either side of a stone staircase or gently cascading from a granite trough. Not very hardy, it will need protection in winter or be reserved for gardens in mild climates.