Alphabetical Plant Listing

Penstemon heterophyllus (Foothill Beardtongue)

Bunchleaf Penstemon, Bunchleaf Beardtongue, Foothill Penstemon, 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.

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Requirements

Hardiness 7 – 10
Heat Zones 7 – 10
Climate Zones 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Penstemon - Beardtongues
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid)
Height 3' – 5' (90cm – 150cm)
Spread 4' – 5' (120cm – 150cm)
Spacing 60" (150cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United States, California
Tolerance Deer, Drought
Attracts Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Wall-Side Borders
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden

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Great Plant Combination Ideas with Penstemon - Beardtongues


Andrew Zharkikh, Flickr, c) Gerhard Bock, SucculentsandMore.com

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 7 – 10
Heat Zones 7 – 10
Climate Zones 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Penstemon - Beardtongues
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid)
Height 3' – 5' (90cm – 150cm)
Spread 4' – 5' (120cm – 150cm)
Spacing 60" (150cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United States, California
Tolerance Deer, Drought
Attracts Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Wall-Side Borders
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Penstemon - Beardtongues

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