Cliff Penstemon
Penstemon rupicola
A low, mat-forming penstemon clinging to cliffs and rock crevices, smothered in deep rose-pink trumpets in early summer. A jewel for rock gardens and crevice plantings.
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Type
- shrub
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 0.3–0.8 ft
- Spacing
- 1–1.5 ft apart
- Light
- sun
- Soil moisture
- dry
- Soil pH
- neutral
- Bloom
- May, June, July, August
- Bloom colors
- pink, purple
- Wildlife value
- pollinators, hummingbirds, larval host
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~8 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- foundation, groundcover, container, erosion control
- Native states
- CA, OR, WA
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)