showy beardtongue
Penstemon spectabilis
USDA zones8 to 11
SunNeeds full sun (6+ hours)
WaterNeeds dry soil
Size2 to 4 feet tall3 to 4 feet wide
- Habit
- Herb
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer
- Bloom color
- Pink , blue , purple
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Showy beardtongue (Penstemon spectabilis) is a perennial for borders, xeriscapes, and low maintenance gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 8, or down to 10°F (-12°C). This plant likes full sun and dry soil of most types. Pink, blue, and purple flowers open in spring and again in summer, and hummingbirds and bees visit them. Deer usually look elsewhere for a meal. It often self-seeds, so you may find new seedlings nearby.
Pairs well with Eastern mojave buckwheat, California poppy, and Shenandoah switchgrass.
Native range
CA.