1. Showy Penstemon – Penstemon spectabilis
(PEN-ste-mon spek-TAB-il-is .)
Family: Scrophulariacaceae (Figwort Family)
S. California to N. Mexico, Baja; gravelly and sandy slopes, banks of washes, coastal
bluffs, coastal-sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodland.
Native to:
herbaceous perennial mature height: 2-5 ft.
mature width: 2-4 ft.
Erect to sprawling herbaceous perennial with coarsely-toothed gray-green leaves. Fast-growing and
relatively long lived (to at least 12 years). Dies back somewhat in late summer/fall.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms Apr-June (over a month or more); very showy purple-pink flowers along a
stalk above the foliage. Pollinated by masarid wasps & bees.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Very showy, dramatic as accent plant. Good for groundcover or back of beds.
Use with plants with the same requirements: Ceanothus, Encelia, Eriogonum, Nassella, Salvias.
vertical element with grasses and other flowering natives.
Nice
Sensible substitute for: Non-native penstemons, delphiniums, hollyhocks.
Nectar attracts native pollinators including bees, butterflies, wasps and hummingbirds.
Good bird habitat: provides some cover and seeds for food.
Attracts:
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun to part-shade
Well-drained soils of any local pH
Do not over-water; very drought tolerant. Summer water decreases lifespan.
None needed
Easy to grow with no added water and little care. Cut back to rosettes after seed has
matured and dispersed. Reseeds readily. To avoid root rot, Penstemons should be planted during the
cooler months (mid fall through early spring).
Management:
Propagation: from seed:
easy; plant in fall
by cuttings: divisions, semi-softwood cuttings in
late summer.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1-3, 6, 8, 10, 12-14, 16, 20, 21, 23-25
12/11/10
© Project SOUND