Carried by 61 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Showy penstemon (Penstemon spectabilis) lives up to its name, being the showiest of the penstemons. It grows fast, reaching 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. This perennial bears spectacular wide-mouthed, tubular violet or purple-blue flowers from its first year on. In good conditions it may flower late winter into summer.
Showy penstemon is beautiful and easy to grow. It likes full sun and tolerates a variety of soils, including clay. If planted in an area that holds water better, it usually doesn't need supplementary summer water. The plant will flower more abundantly with occasional summer water (once per month) but may be shorter lived. It is fairly short lived even under the best of circumstances, typically lasting 5 to 10 years. However, it often self seeds.
This deer-resistant plant is great for wildlife, attracting a variety of native bees and hummingbirds for nectar. It is a larval host for a likely total of 13 butterfly and moth species.
Perennial herb
2 - 4 ft Tall
3 - 4 ft Wide
Mounding, Upright Columnar
Moderate
Evergreen
None
Blue, Pink, Purple
Spring, Winter
Containers, Deer resistant
Full Sun
Very Low
Max 1x / month once established
Moderate
Tolerates cold to 0° F
Fast
Performs best and lives longest in well-drained soil.
Soil PH: 6.0 - 7.5
For propagating by seed: No treatment.
Gentle rocky slopes and dry flats as part of chaparral or coastal sage scrub
Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub
Sagebrush (Artemisia californica), San Diego Viguiera (Bahiopsis laciniata), California Encelia (Encelia californica), Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), Manzanita spp., scrub oaks, and various annuals such as California Poppy.
Butterflies and moths supported
0 confirmed and 13 likely
Geranium Plume Moth
Amblyptilia pica
Verbena Bud Moth
Endothenia hebesana
Anicia Checkerspot
Euphydryas anicia