Bush Penstemon (Penstemon ambiguus) is a distinctive desert native with an airy, shrub-like form that is very different from the other numerous Utah native penstemons! Featuring slender stems and an abundance of delicate lavender,  pinkish-purple, or sometimes white tubular flowers, Bush Penstemon blooms heavily in May and will continue to bloom less intensely through much of the summer. Some irrigation will encourage this blooming to continue. Its slender stems and narrow foliage create a light, open texture that pairs beautifully with grasses, sages, and other drought-tolerant plants. Well adapted to hot, dry conditions, Bush Penstemon is an excellent choice for dry garden beds and borders, rock gardens, and naturalistic landscapes, where its long-lasting blooms provide valuable nectar for hummingbirds and native pollinators. 
Photo Credit: Stan Shebs and Nadiatalent