Scarlet Bugler
Penstemon centranthifolius
Care
full sun, part shade
low
Fast, Medium, Slow; Tolerates clay.
2–4ft tall , 1–1ft wide
Mar-Aug
Deciduous
Resistant
Friendly
Prized
Chaparral and coastal scrub of the Coast Ranges and mountains from Santa Barbara County to Kern County, 1000-4000 ft elevation.
Care Guide
Planting
Plant your scarlet bugler in full sun where it will get at least 6 hours of direct light daily. Choose a spot with fast-draining soil - rocky areas and slopes are ideal, though this plant tolerates clay as long as drainage is good. Space plants about 2–3 feet apart to accommodate their mature height of 2–4 feet. Plant in spring for the best establishment before summer heat.
After Planting
Water weekly during your plant's first summer to help it establish, then taper off as fall arrives. Once established, scarlet bugler needs almost no supplemental water - aim for no more than twice a month during summer. The biggest mistake people make is overwatering; this drought-adapted native will rot in soggy soil, so err on the side of dry. Expect the plant to die back in winter (it's deciduous), and it will reliably regrow in spring to bloom from March through August.
Wildlife Supported
Birds
critical spring migration staging and early breeding season fuel
primary nectar source winter through early spring breeding season in California
early spring breeding and courtship display season
Insects
spring foraging for nectar and pollen
spring and early summer colony establishment and brood rearing
spring through summer adult nectar source
spring larval host plant for this specialized butterfly
spring through early summer pollen collection
late spring and summer pollen collection for brood provisioning
early spring emergence and pollen foraging
spring adult nectar foraging
+4 more species