Penstemons (small to large)
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Winter / Fall
Penstemon azurreus Common Name: Azure Penstemon
Family: Plantaginaceae
Type: Herbaceous Shrub, 1'h x 2'w
Flowers: Spring to Summer
Flower Color: Lavender, Purple
Likes: Part Sun
Low growing, medium sized Penstemon. Attracts butterflies and hummindbirds. Flowers Spring well into Summer with moisture. Plant as an accent or in small groups. May need late summer pruning after a few years. Somewhat drought tolerant. Tolerates some summer irrigation after established.
Penstemon eatonii Common Name: Firecracker Penstemon
Family: Plantaginaceae
Type: Herbaceous Shrub, 1'h x 1'w
Flowers: Spring
Flower Color: Orange/Red
Likes: Full Sun
Low growing Penstemon. Nice red/orange flowers. Native to Southern Rockies. In California found in Mono County. Can use some summer irrigation. Nice perennial for accent or mass plantings. Attracts hummingbirds. Can take some summer water after established.
Penstemon heterophyllus Common Name: Foothill penstemon
Family: Plantaginaceae
Type: Herbaceous Shrub, 1'h x 2'w
Flowers: Spring
Flower Color: Blue, Purple
Likes: Full Sun
A favorite. Low growing Penstemon. Flowers spring well into summer. Plant single or in groups. Nice as a low, shrub like ground cover. No pruning needed. Very drought tolerant Summer water every few weeks during the first year to establish. Can take some summer irrigation after established.
Penstemon heterophyllus var. purdyi Common Name: Purdy's Foothill Penstemon Images
Herbaceous Shrub, 1.5'h x 2'w Flowers: Spring to Summer Flower Color: Blue, Purple Likes: Full Sun
Perennial. Typically grows in lower elevations. May be more drought tolerant than P. Hererophyllus.
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Penstemon pseudospectabilis Common Name: Desert Penstemon
Family: Plantaginaceae
Type: Herbaceous Shrub, 2'h x 2'w
Flowers: Spring to Summer
Flower Color: Purple
Likes: Full Sun
Perennial. Smaller Penstemon. Very adaptable. Native to Southwestern deserts.
Good as a single and grouped. Very drought tolerant. Needs good drainage.
Penstemon Palmeri x​ Common Name: Cornelia's Joy Penstemon
Family: Plantaginaceae
Type: Herbaceous Shrub, 3'h x 2'w
Flowers: Spring to Summer
Flower Color: Pink
Likes: Full Sun
Local hybrid. Appears to be a cross between P. palermi and another. Palmeri has one of the most beautiful light pink flowers but is not long lived. Very attractive flowers with more adaptability to the local Central Valley/Foothill areas. Mid-sized Penstemon. Cut back annually to keep good basil shoots growing and longer lived flowers
Penstemon grinnellii, Common Name: Southern Woodland Penstemon
Family: Plantaginaceae
Type: Herbaceous Shrub, 2.5'h x 3'w
Flowers: Spring
Flower Color: Lavender, Purple
Likes: Full Sun
Mid/large-sized Penstemon. Very hardy. Nice as a single acccent or around large rocks. Will need to be pruned to keep it manageable. Very drought tolerant Summer water every few weeks during the first year to establish. Slightly small and later blooming than P. spectabilis.
Penstemon spectabilis Common Name: Showy Penstemon
Family: Plantaginaceae
Type: Herbaceous Shrub, 3'h x 3'w
Flowers: Spring
Flower Color: Lavender, Purple
Likes: Full Sun
A favorite. Very showy, large, perennial Penstemon. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Plant as an accent or in small groups. Needs annual pruning to remove seed stalks and keep plant from getting too rangy. Very drought tolerant.