Foothill Penstemon
Penstemon heterophyllus
Dazzling spikes of iridescent blue-to-violet tubular flowers light up dry gardens in early summer. One of the easiest and most striking western penstemons.
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Type
- shrub
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 1–2 ft
- Spacing
- 1–1.5 ft apart
- Light
- part shade
- Soil moisture
- dry
- Soil pH
- neutral
- Bloom
- April, May, June, July
- Bloom colors
- blue, purple
- Wildlife value
- pollinators, hummingbirds, butterflies, larval host
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~8 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- foundation, container
- 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)