California Penstemons that grow in DRY areas
Yearly rainfall from 10 inches to 40 inches
These Penstemons like 10 to 40 inches of rainfall without added water! They can tolerate a little water to get established. After that leave them alone! They actually like dry, arid conditions. The picture in the background of this page (P. pseudospectabilis and P. spectabilis) does not get watered and is surviving happily on 15 inches of rainfall. They cannot tolerate garden conditions. Most do great with sages, buckwheats, and other dry loving plants. These Penstemons are not good for coastal areas or areas with high rainfall or humidity. If this is you go to:
The California Penstemons that like MOIST conditions
Drought tolerant California Penstemons
Penstemon
centranthifolius, Scarlet Bugler
Scarlet Bugler has gray foliage and bright red flowers. Hummingbirds love this plant. It likes clean bare soil with low fertility. It grows in the interior of the coast ranges. It can tolerate hot summer temperatures regularly to 115 Deg F, and winter temperatures to -15 Deg F. Scarlet Bugler likes full sun or part shade but will flower more in the sun. It grows 2 to 3ft tall.
This Penstemon is similar to Scarlet burglar but more drought tolerant. The flower clusters are denser and the leaves are rounder and less gray. It is also a good hummingbird plant. It grows 2 to 3ft tall.
Penstemon grinnellii, Southern woodland Penstemon
Southern
woodland Penstemon has large fat flowers. It likes dry
well-drained soils. It cannot tolerate being watered regularly.
It grows about 2 ft tall. This one would be a great addition to a
sage garden.
Penstemon
heterophyllus heterophyllus, Foothill Penstemon
Foothill Penstemon is very similar to Penstemon margarita Bop but it likes drier conditions, is taller and the flowers are more purple. This guy does the best in full sun, with shade it looks leggy. It is cold tolerant to about -10 Deg. F. Foothill Penstemon grows about 2 ft tall and is fairly dense.
Penstemon
incertus, Western Desert Penstemon
This tidy blue Penstemon was planted in our demonstration garden in full sun with no protection and is doing great on our 15 inches of rainfall. Western desert Penstemon is native to our deserts and grows right along side Joshua trees and up into the Pinyon pines. With its flowers this Penstemon is about 3 ft tall.
Penstemon palmeri, Balloon Flower
Sorry about this picture. It really is a beautiful flower. It looks kind of like foxglove. It is called balloon flower because the flowers are so large and round. When it is flowering, the plant is around 3 ft tall. It grows in a similar habitat as P. incertus. It is very drought tolerant.
Penstemon pseudospectabilis, Pink Showy Penstemon
Pink Showy Penstemon is a huge Penstemon. It is a big hit with the hummingbirds. It is one of the two Penstemons in the background of this page. The flower color is hard to describe. It is very deep pink. It really stands out. It produces a mass of flowers in late spring. Pink Showy Penstemon is very drought tolerant. It hasn't been watered since it was planted.
Penstemon spectabilis, Showy Penstemon
Showy
Penstemon can reach 4 ft tall! It is one of the Penstemons in the
background of this page. It is very drought tolerant, thriving on
our 15 inches of rainfall. It looks better in full sun, tending
to get leggy when it is given shade.
Plants that will grow well with these Penstemons
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