Also known as showy beardtongue this herbaceous perennial is native to southern California and Baja California where it grows in the chaparral, scrub, and woodlands of the coastal mountain ranges. It is a member of the plantain family, Plantaginaceae, that also includes snapdragon, turtlehead, and foxglove. The plant forms clumps 2-4′ tall and has pairs of green lanceolate to oval leaves that are up to 4″ long, have toothed margins, and may clasp the stem. In spring, clusters of up to 100 tubular flowers appear on the upper part of the stems. The wide-mouthed flowers are about 1″ long, lavender-purple to pink , with the 2 rounded lobes of the upper lip and the 3 lobes of the lower lip usually being blue, and the inside of the flower being white. Hummingbirds and wasps pollinate the flowers. Showy penstemon is heat and drought tolerant and is a good choice for a xeriscape as well as for a native plant, pollinator, and hummingbird garden. The genus name, Penstemon, comes from the Greek words pente meaning five and stamon meaning the warp of an upright loom, and refers to the five thread-like pollen bearing organs of the flower that stand upright. The specific epithet, spectabilis, is the Latin word meaning remarkable and refers to the flowers.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Bloom: Clusters of lavender-purple to pink flowers in spring
Size: 2-4′ H x 3-4’W
Light: Full sun
Soil: Rocky, dry, well-drained
Hardiness: Zones 8-11
Care: Cut back stems after flowering
Pests and Diseases: None of significance but root rot can be a problem in overly wet soil
Propagation: Seed, division in the fall, softwood cutting in summer.
Companion Plants: California buckwheat, California poppy, greenleaf manzanita
Outstanding Selections: None available
Photo Credit: stickpen Wikimedia Commons