Penstemon azureus

Common Names

Azure Penstemon, Azure Beardtongue, Sky-Blue Penstemon, Sky-Blue Beardtongue

Summary

Azure penstemon is a native perennial herb of the mountains of Oregon and northern California, occurring in coniferous forests and woodlands. It forms a tidy, erect plant with a woody base and many thin branches to about 13–50 cm tall, with opposite linear or lance-shaped leaves that clasp the stem. The flowering display features hairless tubular blue to lavender flowers, about 18–35 mm long, in clusters on inflorescences with 3–10 verticillasters and yellow buds, blooming in Spring and Summer.

It prefers partial shade to sun and well-drained soil, is drought-tolerant, and tolerates a range of watering from occasional to regular. It is suitable for containers and has a neat, tidy habit; it attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds and occurs in USDA zones 7–10.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

0.5-2.5 feet

Spread

20-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained, dry soil

Soil pH

6.0-8.0

Bloom Color

Blue, sometimes lavender or violet

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Blue-green

Fall Foliage Color

Blue, Green-gray (evergreen), Greenish-grey with bluish wax

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Not specified

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, half-woody cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, birds