Penstemon centranthifolius

Common Names

Scarlet Bugler, Beardtongue

Summary

Scarlet Bugler is a California- and Baja California–native perennial in the Plantaginaceae that grows in dry chaparral and oak woodland habitats. It forms a basal rosette of thick gray-green leaves and sends tall, hairless, erect flowering stalks topped by long spikes of bright red to orange-red tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and other pollinators.

In cultivation it prefers full sun and dry, well-drained soils, tolerating sandy, rocky, or poorer soils with good drainage; water should be sparse and allowed to dry between waterings, and propagation is by seed (sow in fall) or half-woody cuttings (late spring/early summer). Pruning removes spent flower stalks after flowering; it is drought-tolerant once established, deer resistant, and suitable for xeriscaping; hardy in zones 8–10. Garden uses include rock gardens, borders, banks and slopes, and containers, with wildlife value for hummingbirds and other pollinators.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-4 feet

Spread

12-18 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun, with tolerance for partial sun and partial shade.

Soil Type

Dry, well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

6.0-8.0

Bloom Color

Red to orange-red

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Blue-green to gray-green

Fall Foliage Color

Gray

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous, Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Cuttings (half-woody)

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, Hummingbirds, Butterflies, Birds