Zone 10b. It’s in a spot that gets full sun in summer and full shade in winter (most of my yard), so I think it could be light starved. Hand watering every two weeks but it’s looked like this since that week of rain a month ago. It’s a year old and multiplied like crazy this summer but was always flopping over too so maybe placement is just not good.
That sounds most plausible. I'm in zone 10 a/b (right on the boundary) and my showy penstemons like full sun. Right now they're in part sun and putting out new leaves and have strong stems. Shade can be a tough place for sun-loving plants to thrive. The only other thing that might be possible is a soil issue, but showy penstemons aren't that picky in my experience.
I don't think any pruning is going to help it. Try to see if you can pull back mulch and anything else that's around the base of it to let it breathe a little bit better. It's been a hard few weeks for plants after that heavy rain it's been so hot. These are one of the plants that really need zero water this time of year in SoCal. I've got a few dozen of these guys, and mulch is almost always the culprit. And don't water it anymore. Although I have found that they do take some infrequent summer water. Like once a month after establishment. I've even had some that survive a few feet away from my watered lawn.
She’s dead, Jim. Cutting them back doesn’t work. It was either in the wrong place (shade), in the wrong soil (clay?), given too much water (they’re drought tolerant after the first year), or some combo of the above.
Monkeyflower would also work. I've grown Diplacus puniceus, Fiesta Marigold, and Diplacus aurantiacus very successfully in the same conditions (Zone 10a, summer sun, winter shade because of a fence). I reckon fuchsia could work, too.
Edit: If you want something more upright like the Penstemon, see if you can find powerline pink Hummingbird Sage. Those things get really tall. You'd get the similar showy flower stalks, only this time with red flowers instead of purple/blue.
Edit Edit: Also, Canyon sunflower if you can find it. It grows in whatever kind of light you have. They're stunning in bloom, and they take pruning well, making it easy to control their size. Dry, wet? Canyon sunflower doesn't care. I've got one surrounded by Heucheras and Irises, and it's as robust a perennial as I've seen. It's one of my favorite shade plants. Absolutely love them.
I have one that's going downhill like that as well, but also putting on new growth on some branches. I think it's too much water and the roots are drowning even though it hasn't been watered in months. Mine is also in full shade during the winter and clay soil.. I guess that's a bad combo.
It looks very stressed for this time of year.
More info on planting zone, sun exposure, irrigation, etc?
Zone 10b. It’s in a spot that gets full sun in summer and full shade in winter (most of my yard), so I think it could be light starved. Hand watering every two weeks but it’s looked like this since that week of rain a month ago. It’s a year old and multiplied like crazy this summer but was always flopping over too so maybe placement is just not good.
That sounds most plausible. I'm in zone 10 a/b (right on the boundary) and my showy penstemons like full sun. Right now they're in part sun and putting out new leaves and have strong stems. Shade can be a tough place for sun-loving plants to thrive. The only other thing that might be possible is a soil issue, but showy penstemons aren't that picky in my experience.
Forgot to attach the picture. Discolored spots on the leaves are just dirt or maybe the start of powdery fungus (UGG just noticed it).
https://preview.redd.it/5nim1jlyvn7g1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=58abe60a4144e04578f19b729cf6edbde14d5fc5
Looks good though!
I don't think any pruning is going to help it. Try to see if you can pull back mulch and anything else that's around the base of it to let it breathe a little bit better. It's been a hard few weeks for plants after that heavy rain it's been so hot. These are one of the plants that really need zero water this time of year in SoCal. I've got a few dozen of these guys, and mulch is almost always the culprit. And don't water it anymore. Although I have found that they do take some infrequent summer water. Like once a month after establishment. I've even had some that survive a few feet away from my watered lawn.
Good advice, will move the mulch for sure
She’s dead, Jim. Cutting them back doesn’t work. It was either in the wrong place (shade), in the wrong soil (clay?), given too much water (they’re drought tolerant after the first year), or some combo of the above.
A hummingbird sage would be a nice replacement.
Ok makes sense! Will try hummingbird sage, or monkey flowers?
Monkeyflower would also work. I've grown Diplacus puniceus, Fiesta Marigold, and Diplacus aurantiacus very successfully in the same conditions (Zone 10a, summer sun, winter shade because of a fence). I reckon fuchsia could work, too.
Edit: If you want something more upright like the Penstemon, see if you can find powerline pink Hummingbird Sage. Those things get really tall. You'd get the similar showy flower stalks, only this time with red flowers instead of purple/blue.
Edit Edit: Also, Canyon sunflower if you can find it. It grows in whatever kind of light you have. They're stunning in bloom, and they take pruning well, making it easy to control their size. Dry, wet? Canyon sunflower doesn't care. I've got one surrounded by Heucheras and Irises, and it's as robust a perennial as I've seen. It's one of my favorite shade plants. Absolutely love them.
https://calscape.org/Venegasia-carpesioides-(Canyon-Sunflower))
RIP showy penstemon.
I have one that's going downhill like that as well, but also putting on new growth on some branches. I think it's too much water and the roots are drowning even though it hasn't been watered in months. Mine is also in full shade during the winter and clay soil.. I guess that's a bad combo.
I'd cut it back the the first non weeping node