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(Penstemon rostriflorus)
Bridge’s Penstemon (Penstemon rostriflorus)
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Stan Shebs
CC BY-SA 3.0
Image By:
Stan Shebs
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Copyright:
CC BY-SA 3.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Stan Shebs | License Type: CC BY-SA 3.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 | Uploader: Stan Shebs | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Penstemon_rostriflorus_5.jpg | Notes: User created page with UploadWizard |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Penstemon rostriflorus, commonly known as Bridge’s Penstemon, is an evergreen perennial herb or subshrub native to the chaparral and pine-oak woodlands in California and the Southwestern United States, particularly in areas with well-drained soils. It typically forms clumps of many erect stems from a woody base and can reach up to 1 meter (3 feet) in height. The leaves are linear to lance-shaped, smooth-edged, and up to 7 centimeters long. The showy inflorescence bears tubular red to orange-red flowers 2 to 3 centimeters long, with a distinctive hooded upper lip and a three-lobed lower lip, blooming from late spring to early summer.
Bridge’s Penstemon is valued for its vibrant tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. It is used in xeriscaping, rock gardens, and native plant gardens due to its low water requirements and adaptability to poor soils. It thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade and prefers soils with fast drainage. While generally low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to root rot if overwatered. This species is not typically associated with aggressive roots or significant disease problems.CC BY-SA 4.0
Bridge’s Penstemon is valued for its vibrant tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. It is used in xeriscaping, rock gardens, and native plant gardens due to its low water requirements and adaptability to poor soils. It thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade and prefers soils with fast drainage. While generally low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to root rot if overwatered. This species is not typically associated with aggressive roots or significant disease problems.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb, Subshrub
- Height: 1-3 feet
- Width: 1.5-3 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Red
- Flowering Season: Fall, Summer
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: Low, Medium
- Drainage: Fast
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden, Showy Flowers, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
native to the chaparral and pine-oak woodlands in California and the Southwestern United States, particularly in areas with well-drained soils
Other Names
Common Names: Bridges’ Penstemon, Beaked Beardtongue, Beakflower Penstemon, Bridges’s Penstemon, Beak-Flower Beardtongue, Bridges Penstemon
Scientific Names: , Penstemon rostriflorus, Penstemon bridgesii, Penstemon bridgesii var. amplexicaulis, Penstemon bridgesii var. rostriflorus,
GBIF Accepted Name: Penstemon rostriflorus Kellogg