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, Sep 248 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Sep 258 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Sep 268 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.
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