Catherine de la Mare' is a cultivar of foothill Penstemon that has eletric blue flowers that turn magenta with age. Foothill Penstemon is a shrub-like perennial that has a low, neat habit, growing 1 to 1 1/2' high. It produces many upright, branching stems, becoming woody at the base. In milder climates, it often remains evergreen.
Identification hints
While many Penstemons have a hairy staminode (a stamen that does not produce any pollen), the foothill Penstemon's staminode is hairless.
Did you know?
Under the right conditions, foothill Penstemon can live for 30 years or more.
DISTRIBUTION IN TH U.S.
There is no information available about this species.
HABITAT
There is no information available about this species.
ATTRIBUTES
Leaves
The leaves grow opposite one another on the stem, and they can vary from long and narrow to lance shaped, growing 2-4" long.
Flowers
Stems terminate in a loose cluster of electric blue flowers that turn magenta with age. The flowers are 1-1/2" long and tubular, with petals divided into an upper and lower lip, the lower with 3 lobes and the upper with 2 lobes. Each flower has 5 stamens, one of which is a sterile stamen called a staminode (it does not produce pollen). The other 4 stamens curl up and into the tubular flower, and the anthers are curled as well.
Fruits
Fruit is a dry capsule with many small seeds.
Bloom Time
Flowers bloom from late spring to summer.
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