Grinnell's Beardtongue
Penstemon grinnellii
A Southern California mountain beardtongue with unusually inflated, almost pouched flowers in white to soft pink-lavender, held on sprawling stems. The wide throat suits large carpenter bees, which are its main visitors. Wants dry summer shade at the base and excellent drainage.
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Type
- shrub
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 1–3 ft
- Spacing
- 1–2 ft apart
- Light
- sun, part shade
- Soil moisture
- dry
- Soil pH
- neutral
- Bloom
- April, May, June, July
- Bloom colors
- white, pink, blue, purple
- Wildlife value
- pollinators, hummingbirds
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~8 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- border, naturalizing
- Native states
- CA
Related native plants
More Penstemon species
- Large Beardtongue (Penstemon grandiflorus)
- Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
- Cobaea Beardtongue (Penstemon cobaea)
- Scarlet Bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius)
- Palmer's Penstemon (Penstemon palmeri)
- Beardlip Penstemon (Penstemon barbatus)