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Woodland sage and Firecracker penstemon: growing conditions and wildlife benefits.

COMMON CHOICE Woodland sage Salvia nemorosa	NATIVE ALTERNATIVE Firecracker penstemon Penstemon eatonii
	GO NATIVE
Native range
Europe and west-central Asia	W. & W. Central U.S.A.See state guides
Sunlight
Full sun to part shade	Full sun
Soil moisture
Moist to occasionally dry; well-drained soil	Dry soil
Mature height
1½–3 ft	10–40 in
Mature spread
6 in–2 ft	Clump-forming
USDA hardiness zones
4–8	3–7
Season of interest
Summer–early fall	Late spring–midsummer
Garden & wildlife value
Flowers provide nectar for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.	Native red flower tubes supply nectar for hummingbirds.
Growing notes
A compact, clumping perennial. Cutting back spent flower spikes can encourage another flush.	Use lean, well-drained soil; overwatering can cause root rot and floppy stems.
Growing information	Growing information Native range: Kew

Sizes describe the species; individual cultivars can differ.