Mat penstemon
Penstemon caespitosus
Mat penstemon (Penstemon caespitosus) is a Colorado-native groundcover suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 2–4 in tall and 8–15 in wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Native mat-forming penstemon with intense blue-purple blooms. Needs sharp drainage.
Colorado nativelow water2–4 in tall and 8–15 in wideXeric / water-wisePlant Select®Deer-resistant
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At a glance
- Botanical name
- Penstemon caespitosus
- Variety / cultivar
- 'Claude Barr'
- Type
- Groundcover
- Mature size
- 2–4 in tall and 8–15 in wide
- Planting spacing
- ~10–15 in apart
- Growth habit
- Mat-forming
- Foot traffic
- No foot traffic
- Winter cover
- Partial winter cover
- Lawn alternative
- No-mow lawn alternative
- Bloom length
- 2–3 weeks
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–8
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Colorado native
- Yes
- Foliage
- Semi-evergreen
- Soil
- sandy, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.5–8.5
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- low
- Firewise (defensible space)
- Zones 1–3 (can be planted near the house)
- Plant Select®
- Yes, Colorado's Plant Select® program
- Bloom color
- blue, purple
- Bloom time
- late spring, early summer
- Pollinator value
- high
- Site uses
- Slopes & erosion control
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Native ecoregion
- foothills, montane
Using Mat penstemon as a groundcover
Mat penstemon forms a low mat. It fills in to a moderately dense cover. On a slope it helps knit the soil together and control erosion.
Planting & establishment
Drainage is critical, wet feet kill it. Minimal water once established.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Mat penstemon good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Mat penstemon is a well-suited groundcover for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Mat penstemon get?
- It matures to about 2–4 in tall and 8–15 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant Mat penstemon?
- Space Mat penstemon about 10 in apart for a faster, fuller cover, or up to 15 in apart for a looser planting.
- Is Mat penstemon hardy on the Front Range?
- Mat penstemon is hardy in USDA 3–8. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Mat penstemon need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is Mat penstemon native to Colorado?
- Yes. It is a Colorado native.
- Is Mat penstemon deer-resistant?
- Mat penstemon is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Mat penstemon a good firewise plant near the house?
- Mat penstemon is a lower-fuel choice suitable in defensible-space zones 1–3, it can be planted near the house when kept well irrigated and maintained. This is general suitability guidance based on CSU Extension firewise plant lists, not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- Is Mat penstemon a Plant Select® winner?
- Yes. Mat penstemon is in Plant Select®, the plant-recommendation program run by Colorado State University and Denver Botanic Gardens to highlight plants that thrive in the region.
- Can you walk on Mat penstemon?
- Mat penstemon isn't meant for foot traffic, site it where you won't need to walk across it.
- Can Mat penstemon replace a lawn?
- Yes, Mat penstemon works as a no-mow lawn alternative on the Front Range. Expect a season or two of weeding and watering while it fills in before it reads as a lawn replacement.
- Will Mat penstemon spread or stay put?
- Mat penstemon is mat-forming. Give it room to fill in and edit the edges to keep it where you want it.
- Does Mat penstemon stay green in winter?
- Mat penstemon keeps partial cover through Front Range winters.
- Is Mat penstemon good for a slope?
- Yes. Mat penstemon helps hold soil on Front Range slopes and control erosion once its roots knit in.
- How long does Mat penstemon bloom?
- Mat penstemon blooms for about two to three weeks on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
