Botanical Name: Penstemon caespitosus
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Common Name: Mat Beardtongue  
Plant photo of: Penstemon caespitosus
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Ground cover, Perennial

 

Height Range

Under 1'

 

Flower Color

Purple, Violet

 

Flower Season

Summer

 

Leaf Color

Green, Grey

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Low

 

Growth Rate

Slow

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay

 

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish

 

Accenting Features

n/a

 

Seasonal Interest

Summer

 

Location Uses

Perennial Border, Parking Strip, With Rocks

 

Special Uses

Filler, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer:

  • Description

  • Notes

Mat Penstemon is an excellent choice for a rock garden or sunny parkstrip. It forms a compact mat of gray-green leaves that are slightly hairy giving it a soft look. Flowers are purple violet, and appear sporadically May thru August. Grows about 5 inches tall and 8 inches inches. Fragrant flowers. A Utah native.
Grows in full sun in sandy or clay soils, as long as it is well draining. It has a high drought tolerance. Difficult to divide as it has a long taproot and is semi-woody.