Electric Blue Beard Tongue Penstemon Heterophyllus 1 Gal

Penstemon heterophyllus, commonly called foothill penstemon, is native to hillsides, grasslands, chaparral and open forest areas in the foothills of California mountain ranges at elevations below 5500’. It is a clump-forming perennial that features loose terminal racemes of gentain blue, tubular flowers (to 1.5” long) atop erect spreading stems to 18” tall. Flowers bloom in late spring to summer. Narrow, oblanceolate to linear, medium green stem leaves (0.5-4” long). The blooms are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other insect pollinators.

‘Electric Blue’ features intense blue flowers that are typically a more uniform blue than the species.

Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Avoid wet, poorly-drained soils. Remove spent flowering racemes to prolong bloom. Plants may be cut back after flowering to improve appearance of the planting. This plant may not be reliably winter hardy in the St. Louis area where it should be planted in a protected location.