Penstemon spectabilis - Showy penstamon

Species Description (from Calscape): Showy penstemon 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. From Calscape.

Grower: Theodore Payne Foundation

Amount of seed in packet: 5 grams

Family: Plantaginaceae

Life Cycle: Perennial

Plant Type: Herb

Sun Exposure: Full

Bloom Period: Winter, Spring

Bloom Color(s): Blue, pink, purple

Plant Height: 2-3 feet tall

Plant Width: 3-4  feet wide

California Regions:

• Southern Coast
• Southern California Inland

Ecological Benefits:

• Deer resistant
• Attracts pollinators, birds, wildlife, bats

Ecological Functions:

• Grows in Containers

Habitat Type:

• Chaparral
• Coastal Sage Scrub 

Skill Level: Beginner

Seed Pretreatment: None