Calico Penstemon
Penstemon calycosus
Large lavender-purple tubular blooms bridge late spring into summer. Glossy foliage, clean upright stems, and steady hummingbird traffic.
Typically 1 pint–1 gal · $9–$30 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
A shade-adaptable native penstemon with large, glossy-leaved architecture and hummingbird-scale blooms in late spring.
Calico penstemon is a mid-Atlantic and Appalachian native that bridges the gap between the spring-blooming penstemons and the summer garden. Its lavender-purple tubular flowers are large and showy on upright stems, opening in late spring and continuing through early summer. The blooms have the typical two-lipped penstemon shape that hummingbirds and bumblebees are built for, and they use them. The foliage has a glossy sheen that distinguishes it from the fuzzy-leafed species, and the stems hold cleanly upright without staking. In woodland edge or partly shaded settings, calico penstemon performs better than most of its relatives, adapting to the dappled light along forest margins. A reliable, underused native for mixed borders.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown calico penstemon propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 1.5–3 ft · 12–18 in wide
- Bloom time
- May–June
- USDA zones
- 5–8
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Native range
- Eastern United States from Ohio south to Georgia and Alabama, west to Missouri and Arkansas
Care notes for calico penstemon.
Full sun to part shade in average, well-drained soil. More tolerant of partial shade than most penstemons. Cut flower stalks back after bloom to encourage basal growth. Established plants are drought tolerant but prefer consistent moisture when first getting established.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside calico penstemon.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.