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More information »	Penstemon fruticosus (shrubby penstemon) Blue-purple, trumpet-shaped flowers with curvy, flared lips cover this diminutive mountain species with a showy display in spring or early summer. Truly a delightful and easy to grow mountain penstemon, only reaching about 12 inches high and spreading to about 1.5 ft, covered in dense, narrow leaves. Perfect for a container or in a rock garden with good drainage. Enjoys full sun to light shade and occasional to infrequent irrigation. Native to the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Rockies, almost making it into California. A favorite of hummingbirds and enjoyed by bees.
More information »	Penstemon heterophyllus (foothill penstemon) Iridescent blue-purple tubular flowers in short spikes put on a good show over a long period in spring and early summer. The spent flower spikes should be cut off to encourage more blooming, better form, and longer life. Best in full sun with well drained soils and moderate to little water once established. Hummingbird favorite.
More information »	Penstemon heterophyllus 'Blue Springs' (foothill penstemon) A seed strain of a highly variable native penstemon. Attractive narrow, shiny, bluish-green leaves topped with dense spikes of narrow bell-shaped blossoms of bright blue. Flowers late spring to early summer, growing to around 1 to 1 1/2 ft. tall and wide. The spent flower spikes should be cut off to encourage more blooming, better form, and longer life. Best in full sun with good drainage and moderate to little summer water.
More information »	Penstemon heterophyllus 'GMR White' (white foothill penstemon) Description coming soon!
More information »	Penstemon heterophyllus 'Margarita BOP' (foothill penstemon) A fine selection of a native penstemon from Las Pilitas Nursery where this chance hybrid seedling was discovered at the “Bottom Of the Porch”. Forms a tidy mound 18 inches tall by 2 ft. or so wide. Iridescent blue-purple tubular flowers in short spikes put on a good show over a long period in spring and early summer. The spent flower spikes should be cut off to encourage more blooming, better form, and longer life. Best in full sun with well drained soils and moderate to little water once established. 'Margarita BOP' has proven particularly adaptable and has survived longer than other cultivars. Hummingbird favorite.
More information »	Penstemon heterophyllus - Hood Mt. seed strain (foothill penstemon) From the rugged Hood Mountain area, southeast of Santa Rosa, comes this local seed strain of foothill penstemon, which is showing promise as a particularly good performer. Proving to be vigorous and disease resistant, blooming freely with particularly large, vivid-blue, open-mouthed, tubular blossoms, spring into summer. An evergreen perennial, growing 1 -2 ft. tall and wide, for full sun with decent drainage, and little water once established. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds are all attracted to the showy flowers. A great, local, seed grown alternative to the cutting grown 'Margarita BOP'.
More information »	Penstemon newberryi (mountain pride) As the common name implies, this beauty is native to the mountains of California, Oregon and Nevada, where it grows in rocky habitats at high elevations. Forms an evergreen mat, under a foot tall with thick, leathery leaves and gorgeous magenta-pink tubular flowers, in mid to late spring. Good drainage is a must for success and growing in a container is an option for those with heavy soils. Full sun to very light shade with occasional summer waterings. Can be challenging to cultivate, but well worth the extra effort. The showy flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. Said to be deer resistant.
More information »	Penstemon palmeri (scented penstemon) Showy, grape-scented, pale pink flowers top blue-green, succulent-like foliage on vertical stalks reaching an astonishing 3 to 5 ft. in height. The bulbous flowers have given rise to the common name, ballon flower. Native to desert mountains of southern California and throughout the western United States. This penstemon is attractive to a multitude of pollinators, especially hummingbirds. Plant in full sun to light shade and provide good drainage. Drought tolerant once established. The tall but narrow flower stalks make this penstemon useful in narrow spaces where height is desired.
More information »	Penstemon parryi (Parry's penstemon) An adaptable species from the desert southwest of the United States. Thick bluish-green foliage forms a low rosette up to 2 feet wide. Bright pink funnel-shaped flowers are produced in profusion on stems 1-3 ft. tall in spring. Good drainage and full sun with moderate to little water once established. Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
More information »	Penstemon pinifolius 'Mersea Yellow' (yellow pineleaf penstemon) Forms a tidy shrublet of attractive bright-green needle-like leaves, growing 12 - 18 inches tall and wide. This unusual color variant sports clear-yellow tubular flowers, which are rare in the genus Penstemon. Native to Arizona and New Mexico, this clump former requires good drainage, full sun with moderate to infrequent summer water. Blooming late spring to early summer, the tubular flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies.
More information »	Penstemon pinifolius 'Sunset Glow' (pineleaf penstemon) The floriferous pineleaf penstemon is native to Arizona and New Mexico and is a popular dry garden addition. ‘Sunset Glow’ is the result of a 20 year breeding program at the Denver Botanic Garden, working towards improved flower color and plant size and form. The luscious shade of soft-orange, tubular flowers, blends beautifully with other foliage and flower colors. The flowers begin in late spring atop the finely textured foliage, which forms a compact mound 12 - 18 inches tall and 18 -24 inches wide. Plant in full sun with good drainage and moderate to infrequent watering once established. Highly attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators.
More information »	Penstemon pseudospectabilis (desert penstemon) From the southeast corner of the state comes this surprisingly adaptable penstemon, with prolific displays of magenta-purple, tubular flowers with flared mouths. Large, serrated, gray-green leaves line stems in attractive pairs. Flower stalks rise 2 – 3 ft. in spring, drawing in hummingbirds and bees. Even though this species is from the desert, it does quite well in local gardens with good drainage, full sun and occasional irrigation once established. Several local butterflies use the desert penstemon as a larval food source, including the common buckeye, variable checkerspot and Edith’s checkerspot.
More information »	Penstemon rostriflorus (Bridges' penstemon) A wonderful addition to the dry garden, bringing late summer color through abundant, bright red, tubular flowers. Growing 24 – 36 inches tall and wide, with attractive, glossy foliage, that takes on red and bronze tones in winter. A late blooming Penstemon, beginning in July, provides copious nectar for hummingbirds as well as bees, butterflies, and moths. Tolerant of wide range of soils and conditions, plant in full sun to light shade with occasional water. Drought tolerant once established. Deer resistant.
More information »	Penstemon rydbergii (meadow penstemon) A widespread species native to much of the western United States, including California, growing in mountainous regions in moist meadows and along streams. Forms a low rosette of bright green leaves topped with flower stems 1 -2 foot tall. The small, lavender-purple, tubular flowers are clustered in whorls on dense spikes. The blossoms offer an excellent source of nectar and pollen to hummingbirds, bees and butterflies, as well as a larval food source for a number of butterfly species. Considered easy to grow and long lived. Plant in full sun to light shade with regular moisture. Somewhat winter deciduous. Deer resistant.
More information »	Penstemon spectabilis (royal penstemon) A spectacular Penstemon native to dry, gravelly slopes of southern California and northern Baja. Demanding good drainage and full sun, this perennial grows 3 ft. or more tall with striking displays of lavender-purple tubular flowers. A challenging species with a sensational floral display, but can be short lived in northern California. Performs best in hot inland gardens. Take care not to over water. Highly attractive to hummingbirds as well as bees and butterflies.
More information »	Penstemon strictus (Rocky Mt. penstemon) Showy perennial, native to a number of states in the Rocky Mountains, where it grows in sage brush and coniferous forest communities. Forming clumps of neat evergreen foliage 8 - 10 inches tall by 36 inches wide. Mid to late spring brings flowering stems 2 foot or so above the foliage with deep blue-purple tubular flowers. Considered one of the easier to grow, tolerating heavier soil and moisture better than many Penstemon species. Still, good drainage is best with little summer water once established. Plant in full sun to light shade in hot regions. Very cold tolerant. Penstemons are attractive to hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.
More information »	Penstemon venustus (Venus penstemon, elegant penstemon) This jewel of the mountains displays richly toned, trumpet-shaped flowers of blue to lavender held on stalks reaching 1 – 3 ft. tall. Dark green, serrated leaves form a low mound up to 2ft. wide over time. Hummingbirds love the tubular flowers as do bees. Plant in full sun with excellent drainage and water infrequently. While native to much of the West, this penstemon doesn’t quite make it into California.
More information »	Perideridia gairdneri (yampah) An interesting and rarely cultivated native perennial that grows in grasslands and meadows in central to northern California and the Sierra Nevada foothills. Narrow leaves emerge in the spring giving way to lovely 4 ft. tall flowering stems topped with umbels of delicate white flowers in the summer. Looks particularly nice in mass and livens up a meadow or grassland planting that may be waning in summer. Entice the anise swallowtail butterfly with a NATIVE larval food source. Plant in full sun to light shade with a little water. Allow to go dry after flowering.
More information »	Perideridia kelloggii (yampah) An interesting and rarely cultivated native perennial that grows in grasslands and meadows in central to northern California and the Sierra Nevada foothills. Narrow leaves emerge in the spring giving way to lovely 4 ft. tall flowering stems topped with umbels of delicate white flowers in the summer. Looks particularly nice in mass and livens up a meadow or grassland planting that may be waning in summer. Entice the anise swallowtail butterfly with a NATIVE larval food source. Plant in full sun to light shade with a little water. Allow to go dry after flowering.
More information »	Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian sage) Upright, shrubby perennial, reaching 3 – 4 foot tall and wide, spreading by underground stems. Greyish, lacy, aromatic foliage, producing spires of small violet-blue flowers in late spring and summer, which create a haze of soft color. Plant in full sun where it will be heat and drought tolerant once established. Beloved by pollinators, bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Deer and rabbit resistant.
More information »	Petasites frigidus var. palmatus (western coltsfoot) A bold, beautiful and AGGRESSIVE creekside native, found in coastal and montane regions in California, north to Alaska, where it grows along shady creek banks. The large, almost tropical, palmate leaves spread from thick creeping rootstocks to form large colonies. Flowers before the foliage fully emerges in the spring with flat topped clusters of white to pink flowers on 1-2 ft. tall stems. Requires shade and plenty of water and is useful as a soil stabilizer. To control its spreading nature, use in containers or in contained areas. It won't spread into areas which are dry. Dies back to the ground in the winter. Flowers attractive to a wide range of beneficial insects.
More information »	Petasites palmatus 'Golden Palms' (golden western coltsfoot) Here is an exciting introduction of the western coltsfoot with wonderful golden foliage. Native to streamsides in low elevation forests, the broadly palmate leaves spread by creeping rhizomes. Careful thought should be given to its placement as it can be invasive. This bold foliage plant is great in containers or contained areas with regular water and part shade. Dies back to the ground in winter.
More information »	Phacelia bolanderi (woodland phacelia) Easy to grow perennial for part shade and a little summer water. Native to slopes and canyons of coastal forests in northern California. Forms low mounds of soft foliage 6 - 8 inches tall by 2 ft. or so wide. Pretty powder blue-purple one inch flowers late spring into summer offer nectar to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. The seeds are enjoyed by songbirds. Though somewhat short-lived, it often reseeds. Appears to be deer resistant.
More information »	Phacelia californica (California phacelia) A low elevation species inhabiting bluffs, open slopes, road cuts and canyons of our inner and outer Coast Ranges down through the central coast. Forms perennial clumps of crinkled gray leaves. Stout stems rise above the rosette one foot to 18 inches tall with large coils of lavender flowers. Excellent rock garden subject. Plant in sunny areas with good drainage where it will be drought tolerant, and will do fine with a little summer water. Phacelias are great for attracting bees and butterflies.
More information »	Phacelia campanularia (desert bluebells) This ANNUAL is endemic to washes in Southern California deserts. Amazing, royal blue flowers make a show stopping display a top foliage 6-10 inches tall. Surprisingly adaptable, requiring well drained soils , full sun and dryish conditions. Excellent in containers too. Bee favorite.