March Plant of the Month: Foothill Penstemon Penstemon heterophyllus

Written by Lisa Endicott, Horticulture Manager

The Plant of the Month for March is Foothill Penstemon Penstemon heterophyllus , chosen by one of our super-dedicated Nursery volunteers, Kelly Williams. Kelly is also a great Nursery customer and salesperson, sharing his extensive experience with growing many plants we propagate in his home garden. Very appropriately, Kelly is our presenter for the upcoming May Plant Talk: Drought-Tolerant Landscaping at Home on May 13.

Below are Kelly’s reasons for choosing Foothill Penstemon as the March Plant of the Month.

• It is a Northern California native, so it is well adapted to Redding's heat and drought. 

• The flowers are neon blue/purple and stunning. A real pleasure to behold. 

• It attracts pollinators (hummingbirds, butterflies, bees) and is a host plant for several butterflies, including the common buckeye. 

• Low water needs and does well on drip irrigation. 

• Unlike many other Penstemons, it stays compact and tidy (well-behaved). 

• Easy care

• Evergreen

I would add to that list: long-blooming and repeat blooming (only if you “deadhead”- cut or shear the spent flowers back right after the first flush of blooms has died). This is unusual behavior for a California native perennial, but most welcome. 

Habit of Foothill Penstemon growing next to a Little leaf Sage 

Closeup of the multicolored, tubular blooms

Foothill Penstemon is a long-lived perennial and grows from far northern to far southern California on slopes in Yellow Pine Forest, Foothill Woodland, and Chaparral habitats on the west of the Sierra Nevadas and up and down the western side of the state. It is endemic (native only to) California plants. Due to its qualities, Foothill Penstemon is certainly a California native that has found increasing popularity in native and drought-tolerant gardens. 

Foothill Penstemon is endlessly photogenic. You will often see hummingbirds and/or butterflies visiting the blooms. 

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California native Foothill Penstemon are always in propagation rotation in our Nursery. View our inventory list by clicking the button below.

Caring for Foothill Penstemon Penstemon heterophyllus in our area: 

• Prefers growing in areas with full sun. 

• Grows best in well-draining soil. 

• If you don’t have well-draining soil, create small (or large) raised planting areas. 

• Water weekly in summer until established (1-2 years), then occasionally, as needed. 

Gardening or plant questions?
Email us at gardens@turtlebay.org