Penstemon centranthifolius
scarlet bugler
California and northern Baja California
Attracts PollinatorsAttracts HummingbirdsDeer ResistantDrought TolerantContainer Friendly
Native to North America
Overview
Penstemon centranthifolius is an upright herbaceous perennial reaching 1-4 feet (30-120 cm) tall and 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) wide, growing from a woody base. The smooth stems and clasping, lance-shaped to oval leaves are coated with a waxy blue-gray bloom that gives the plant a glaucous cast. Leaves are 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) long and opposite, the upper pairs clasping the stem. Narrow tubular scarlet flowers about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long line the upper stems in slender one-sided spikes, each flower with a straight, scarcely flaring mouth suited to hummingbird visits. Flowering runs from April to June. Dry capsules follow, splitting to release many small seeds. The species grows on dry slopes, washes, and chaparral and coastal sage scrub openings, tolerating heat, drought, and poor rocky soil. It is short-lived, often three to five years, but self-sows where soil stays open. The blue-gray foliage holds through summer in dry conditions. Plants decline in wet or rich soil and rot under overhead summer water.
Native Range
Penstemon centranthifolius is native to California and northern Baja California, ranging through the Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada foothills, and Transverse and Peninsular Ranges. It grows on dry slopes, gravelly washes, and chaparral and coastal sage scrub openings below 6,000 feet (1,800 m).Suggested Uses
Used in dry native and pollinator gardens, rock gardens, and hummingbird plantings on lean soils, spaced 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) apart. Suited to hot, gravelly slopes where summer water can be withheld. The scarlet flowers draw hummingbirds through late spring.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 4'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Scarlet tubular flowers open from April to June along the upper stems. Each spike blooms from the bottom up over three to four weeks. Hummingbirds are the main pollinators, drawn to the red tubular flowers, with some visits from long-tongued bees.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Blue-gray, glaucousGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Penstemon centranthifolius in full sun on dry, sharply drained sandy, gravelly, or rocky soil. It withstands heat and drought and needs no summer water once established, matching its dry-slope habitat. A neutral to slightly alkaline pH from 6.5 to 8.0 suits it. Plants reach flowering size in their second year and reseed where bare soil is available. Overhead summer irrigation and rich, wet soil cause crown rot and shorten the plant's life. Cutting spent flower stalks after bloom can prompt a few later flowers and tidies the form.Pruning
Spent flower stalks are cut back after bloom to tidy the plant and sometimes prompt rebloom. Old growth is trimmed lightly in late fall or early spring. Hard pruning into the woody base is avoided, as it can kill the plant.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
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D
fallearly spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons