california native flora

Keckiella Cordifolia – Heart-leaved Penstemon

Click Image To Enlarge

This is an interesting shrub with vine-like growth. Close proximity to other shrubs can actually assist it’s spread. Heart-leaved Penstemon is another California native that attracts hummingbirds. The red flowers appear in late spring through to early summer when it can become deciduous in high temperatures. Although we are close to the coast, temperatures on our patio are similar to interior valleys so I’d fully expect this plant to play possum in the height of summer.

Keckiella Cordifolia likes part sun and occasional water. It is drought tolerant once established but a little summer irrigation may help stave off dormancy. It can also tolerate heavy clay soil. In the right conditions this will grow to about 4′ x 4′ but may spread further growing through other plants as well as by rhizomes.