Penstemon spectabilis

Penstemon spectabilis is a 3' perennial with lavender flowers in April-June. Native in dry creek beds, hill sides and coastal bluffs of southern California. A very showy border plant, (at the back, too big for the front). Showy Penstemon has survived a 0 degree F. night, 4" rainfall, full sun and 120+ degrees F.temperatures. Showy Penstemon has been easy on all sites. Do not overwater. It needs good drainage and sun. Our original plant finally was pulled out because it showed its age of 11 years. Showy Penstemon had survived through all with no water or thought, Penny picked the flowers each year for the house and the hummers worked it regularly. Associated plants include Artemisia tridentata, Arctostaphylos patula platyphylla, Penstemon centranthifolius, and Adenostoma sparsifolium .
Note: our Penstemon spectabilis, Showy Penstemons  are commonly grown from seed and can sometimes be Penstemon parishii. We try to separate them, but we're far from perfect.So if your Showy Penstemon is pink, it will be parshii.

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