California Gardens - The Year Round Gardening Site

Penstemon centranthifolius - Scarlet Bugler

Penstemon centranthifolius is one of our most spectacular natives. The Scarlet Bugler blooms with slender red flowers from April to June and longer if it gets some water. Penstemon centranthifolius tolerates a wide variety of soil types from sandy stream bank to heavy clay. The common denominator is that Penstemon centranthifolius needs to dry out during heat of the Summer. Excessive mulch can hold in the moisture too long rotting the base of the plants. Penstemon centranthifolius is brittle and will not hold up well around errant hoses and active pets. Penstemon centranthifolius is a great plant for the hummingbird garden. The Scarlet Bugler has foliage up to a foot tall and flower spikes up to 3 feet. Penstemon centranthifolius is hardy down to 0° F and likely below. Penstemon centranthifolius is a potential larval food source for the Common Buckeye Butterfly and could be a nice addition to your butterfly garden.

Penstemon centrathifolius, Scarlet Bugler

Red flowers of Penstemon centranthifolius - Scarlet Bugler. High resolution photos are part of our garden image collection.

Penstemon centrathifolius, Scarlet Bugler

Red flowers of Penstemon centranthifolius - Scarlet Bugler. High resolution photos are part of our garden image collection.

Other Penstemons featured on this site:
Keckiella antirrhinoides * Yellow Bush Penstemon
Keckiella breviflora * Yawning Penstemon
Keckiella cordifolia * Heartleaf Penstemon
Keckiella ternata * Blue Stemmed Penstemon
Penstemon Apple Blossom
Penstemon Burgundy Brew
Penstemon cobaea
Penstemon eatonii
Penstemon Evelyn
Penstemon Firebird
Penstemon grinnellii
Penstemon heterophyllus
Penstemon Hidcote Pink
Penstemon Holly's White
Penstemon Husker Red
Penstemon Margarita BOP
Penstemon Midnight
Penstemon palmeri
Penstemon parryi
Penstemon Raven
Penstemon Red Rocks
Penstemon spectabilis
Penstemon triflorus