prairie wildflower
Scarlet bugler
Penstemon centranthifolius
1 of 3Native to California
Coast Ranges from Lake to San Diego counties in California, south to Baja California and Sonora
- Light Full sun Sun tolerance
- Moisture Dry Moisture preference
- Zones n/a Cold to heat range
- Bloom Apr–Jul Flowering time
- Height up to 4 ft to 1.2 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A prairie wildflower for full sun and lean, dry soil. Its red flowers peak in May. At up to 4 ft, it suits meadows and sunny borders.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
When it blooms
The Scarlet bugler's red flowers bloom April to July, peaking in May. This late-spring display draws butterflies and bees.
Scarlet bugler blooms redFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Butterflies Gray Hairstreak
also Western Tiger Swallowtail, Marine Blue, Pale Swallowtail +2 more
Boisduval's Blue, Pacuvius Duskywing - Bees Yellow-faced Bumble Bee also Grinnell's Small-Mason, Oval-headed Sweat Bee
- Hummingbirds Anna's Hummingbird also Costa's Hummingbird
- Also visited by
- Wasps: Odynerus erythrogaster
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Baltimore checkerspotcaterpillar host
- Boisduval's bluenectar
- Eastern tiger swallowtailnectar
- Gray hairstreaknectar
- Marine bluenectar
- Pale swallowtailnectar
- Western tiger swallowtailnectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- PrairieThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- CaliforniaUnited States (1): CA. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Coast Ranges from Lake to San Diego counties in California, south to Baja California and SonoraThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sunHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- DryThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Soil
- Dry, well-drained soilThe soils it grows in naturally.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 4 ft (to 1.2 m)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Apr–JulWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- RedThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- Capsule; ripens May–DecThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.