Californian native penstemon with striking electric-blue-to-violet tubular flowers on neat compact mounds. The cultivar ‘Margarita BOP’ is one of the most reliably hardy ornamental penstemons.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 6–10 | −23.3 °C to 4.4 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H4 | −10 °C to −5 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 7–9 | −12 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 2–6 | −10 °C to 15 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Plant in sunny dry borders, Mediterranean gardens, and rock gardens — flowers attract bumblebees and hummingbirds
- Electric blue-violet flower colour is unusual among penstemons and gives the plant its garden value
- Drought tolerant and heat tolerant — adapted to Californian Mediterranean climate
- Distinct from other penstemon entries — heterophyllus is the western-Californian dryland species with notably blue flowers
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Foothill penstemon against your zones