Plantaginaceae
Gay penstemon
Penstemon laetus
Also known as Showy penstemon, Penstemon laetus subsp. typicus, Gay beardtongue, Penstemon ambiguus
Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Native · Perennial · Wildflower · Drought-Adapted · Hummingbird · Western-Us · Penstemon · Pollinator · California-Native · Low-Water
Gay penstemon is a tough, low-maintenance native perennial that thrives in well-drained soils with full sun to partial shade. Water deeply but infrequently, letting the soil dry out between sessions, and avoid overwatering which is the most common cause of decline. Once established it is quite self-sufficient and rewards gardeners with vibrant tubular blue-violet flowers that attract hummingbirds and bees.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Water deeply but infrequently; allow soil to dry between waterings · Every 10-14 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 6–7.6
- Temperature
- -25°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed, Division, Cutting
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 4 ft
- Spread
- 4 ft
- Spacing
- 18 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- Yes
- Foliage
- Coarse
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- California, Oregon
- Attracts
- Bees, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
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