Carried by 27 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Foothill penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus) is a stunning perennial with profuse clusters of blue to magenta tubular flowers. Foothill penstemon can be found in all major coastal mountain ranges and the northern Sierra Nevada foothills. It occurs in many local habitat types from grassland to chaparral to forests.
Foothill penstemon is a wonderful addition to front of borders. Blooming begins in May and continues for a month or two. Taking off dead flower stalks will induce more flowering. The plant’s stems can exceed 3 feet and may become woody at the base. Several cultivars have been developed for use in summer-dry climate and other low-water-use gardens, including 'Electric Blue,' 'Margarita BOP,' and 'Blue Springs' which may grow only 12 to 18 inches tall.
This is a fast-growing, easy and hardy flowering plant that requires moderate water and sun to light shade. It is adaptable to different types of soil so long as drainage is good.
Perennial herb
3 - 5 ft Tall
5 ft Wide
Fountain
Fast
Evergreen
Blue, Purple, Lavender
Summer, Spring, Winter
Deer resistant, Groundcover, Lawn alternative
Full Sun, Partial Shade
Very Low
Max 3x / month once established
Easy
Tolerates cold to 10° F
Fast, Medium, Slow
Tolerant of a variety of soils as long as drainage is good.
Tolerates sodic soil..
Soil PH: 6.0 - 7.5
Deadhead to induce more flowering
From cuttings. For propagating by seed: No treatment; 1 to 2 months stratification may improve germination.
Near the coast, open grassy places, typically on slopes where drainage is good, usually as part of chaparral vegetation. Inland and at higher elevations it also occurs in openings in foothill woodland or pine forest.
Chaparral, Foothill Woodland, Southern Oak Woodland, Yellow Pine Forest
Shrubs and Trees: Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Oaks (Quercus spp.), Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia), Yucca spp.
Herbs: California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica), California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), California Encelia (Encelia californica), Sticky Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus), and Scarlet Bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius)
Butterflies and moths supported
0 confirmed and 17 likely
Geranium Plume Moth
Amblyptilia pica
Verbena Bud Moth
Endothenia hebesana
Anicia Checkerspot
Euphydryas anicia