Plantaginaceae
Sawsepal penstemon
Penstemon glaber
Also known as Sawsepal beardtongue, Penstemon serrulatus, Coast penstemon
Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Penstemon · Rocky Mountain Native · Hummingbird Plant · Tubular Flowers · Pollinator · Drought Tolerant · Perennial · Blue Flowers · Great Plains · Prairie Garden
Sawsepal penstemon is a striking native perennial of the Rocky Mountain region, producing large, showy blue to lavender tubular flowers that are magnets for hummingbirds and native bees from late spring through midsummer. It thrives in well-drained soils under full sun to partial shade and is quite drought-tolerant once established, requiring little supplemental irrigation. Minimal pruning after flowering helps maintain a tidy habit and may encourage a second flush of blooms.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Water deeply and allow soil to partially dry between waterings; avoid standing water · Every 10-14 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 6–8
- 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
- Colorado, Mexico Northeast, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
- Attracts
- Hummingbirds, Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
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