Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Rydberg's Penstemon (Penstemon rydbergii) is a native perennial herb that grows in Central and Northern California, primarily in the High Sierra Nevada region. It is moderately fast growing and moderately long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 3 feet, with active growth during the spring. Flowers are blue and striking, and bloom in the mid summer. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in moist meadows and streambanks, at elevations from 3,900-10,200 feet.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

1 - 3 ft Tall
3 ft Wide

Form

Upright

Growth rate

Moderate

Dormancy

Winter Deciduous

Calscape icon
Color

Blue, Lavender, Purple

Flowering season

Summer

Special uses

Containers, Deer resistant

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Moderate, High

Summer irrigation

Keep moist

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to -15° F

Soil drainage

Slow

Soil description

Tolerates a variety of soils.
Soil PH: 5.0 - 6.8

Propagation

For propagating by seed: 2 mos. stratification (Williams 1986).

Site type

Moist meadows and streambanks of the Sierras

Plant communities

Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Sagebrush Scrub, Subalpine Forest, Yellow Pine Forest, Wetland-Riparian

Use in a mountain meadow garden with native grasses and perennials such as Sitka Columbine (Aquilegia formosa), Sierra Mariposa Lily (Calochortus minimus), Roundleaf Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), Western Blue Flag (Iris missouriensis), Alpine Lily (Lilium parvum), Bog Orchid (Platanthera sparsiflora), Buttercup (Ranunculus spp.), Triteleia spp., and Violet (Viola spp.)

Hummingbirds
Bats
Birds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 13 likely

Confirmed Likely

Geranium Plume Moth

Amblyptilia pica

Archirhoe neomexicana

Anicia Checkerspot

Euphydryas anicia

Variable Checkerspot

Euphydryas chalcedona