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Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Blue Spring’ (Foothill Beardtongue)

Bunchleaf Penstemon 'Blue Spring', Bunchleaf Beardtongue 'Blue Spring', Foothill Penstemon 'Blue Spring', Foothill Beardtongue 'Blue Spring', Penstemon heterophyllus 'Blue Springs', Blue Springs Foothill Penstemon

Penstemon heterophyllus 'Blue Spring',  Bunchleaf Penstemon 'Blue Spring', Bunchleaf Beardtongue 'Blue Spring', Foothill Penstemon 'Blue Spring', Foothill Beardtongue 'Blue Spring'

Calling out for attention, Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Blue Spring’ (Foothill Beardtongue) is a clump-forming evergreen perennial boasting a spectacular display of wide-mouthed, tubular bright blue flowers tinged with pink in spring and summer. The profuse blossoms are borne on upright, branching stems and rise well above the foliage of narrow, shiny, bluish-green leaves. They attract scores of hummingbirds, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators. Long-lived, easy to grow, fuss-free, and deer resistant, Foothill Beardtongue ‘Blue Spring’ is a seed strain of the outstanding California native Penstemon heterophyllus. It is perfect for the sunny water-wise garden and looks dramatic planted in masses in a dry mixed border.

  • Grows up to 12-18 in. tall and wide (30-45 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 seed is required) to promote more blooms.
  • Take softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer or propagate by division.

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 Plantaginaceae
Genus Penstemon
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid)
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" (50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Drought, Deer
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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Alternative Plants to Consider

Penstemon 'Onyx and Pearls', Onyx and Pearls Beardtongue, Beardtongue 'Onyx and Pearls', White Penstemon, White Beardtongue, Black Penstemon, Black Beardtongue
Penstemon centranthifolius, Scarlet Bugler, Red Penstemon, Red Beardtongue, California Native Perennial, California Native Plant
Penstemon heterophyllus, Bunchleaf Penstemon, Bunchleaf Beardtongue, Foothill Penstemon, Foothill Beardtongue, California Native Plants
Penstemon 'Midnight Masquerade',  Beardtongue 'Midnight Masquerade', Purple Penstemon, Purple Beardtongue, Lavender Penstemon, Lavender Beardtongue
Penstemon serrulatus, Serrulate Penstemon, Serrulate Beardtongue, Cascade Penstemon, Cascade Beardtongue, Coast Penstemon, Coast Beardtongue, Purple Penstemon, Purple Beardtongue
Penstemon confertus, Yellow Penstemon, Yellow Beardtongue

Recommended Companion Plants

Encelia californica,  California Brittlebush, Coast Sunflower, Bush Sunflower, California Encelia
Zauschneria californica 'Calistoga', California Fuchsia  'Calistoga', Zauschneria cana 'Calistoga', Zauschneria 'Calistoga', Epilobium californicum 'Calistoga', Epilobium canum 'Calistoga'
Linum lewisii, Wild Blue Flax, Prairie Flax, Lewis Flax, Lewis's Flax, Drought tolerant perennials, Blue perennial flowers, Evergreen perennial, Low maintenance perennial
Mimulus aurantiacus, Bush Monkey Flower, Sticky Monkey Flower, Orange Bush Monkey Flower, Diplacus aurantiacus, Orange flowers, California natives,AGM Award

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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.
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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 Plantaginaceae
Genus Penstemon
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid)
Height 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" (50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Drought, Deer
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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Do I Need?
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Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Penstemon
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