Penstemon heterophyllus (Foothill Beardtongue)

Very floriferous, Penstemon heterophyllus (Foothill Beardtongue) is a clump-forming evergreen perennial boasting large, wide-mouthed, tubular flowers, 1.5 in. long (4 cm), in shimmering shades of blue, purple or pink. Blooming in spring and summer, the profuse blossoms are borne on upright, branching stems and rise well above the foliage of narrow, dark green leaves, 1-3 in. long (2-7 cm). They attract scores of hummingbirds, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators. A second flowering can be induced by trimming the flowering heads after flowering. Long-lived, easy to grow, fuss-free, and deer resistant, Foothill Beardtongue is perfect for the sunny water-wise garden and looks dramatic planted in masses in a dry mixed border. As an added bonus, the flowers hold up well in bouquets. Foothill Beardtongue is native to California, where it can be found in all the major coastal mountain ranges and the northern Sierra Nevada foothills. Several selections have been developed for use in Mediterranean-climate and other low-water-use gardens, including ‘Electric Blue’, ‘Margarita BOP’, and ‘Blue Springs’.

• Grows up to 3-5 ft. tall (90-150 cm) and 4-5 ft. wide (120-150 cm). Often self-seeds in the garden.
• Performs best in full sun in moderately fertile, sharply-drained soils. Water three times per month in summer once established. Drought tolerant.
• Provides a charming impact in beds and borders, city gardens, cottage gardens, coastal gardens, rock gardens, and Mediterranean gardens. Plant in bold groupings.
• Keep an eye out for slugs, snails, aphids, leaf and bud eelworm, gray mold, powdery mildew, and fungal leaf spot. Deer resistant.
• Prune any winter-damaged stems back hard to encourage fresh new growth from the base. After flowering, shorten flowered stems by half (unless the seed is required) to promote more blooms.
• Take softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer or propagate by division.
• Native to California.