Mancos Penstemon
Penstemon strictiformis
Last reviewed: October 2026
Toxicity unknown
Mancos Penstemon (Penstemon strictiformis) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
8"–24" H × 8"–12" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Native to
AZ, CO, NM, UT
Pollinators
bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 458 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Mancos Penstemon.
Browse plants for this ecoregion
An upright beardtongue with narrow, smooth leaves and one-sided spikes of blue-violet tubular flowers. Grows in dry, open woodland and shrubland.
In an HOA neighborhood
Mancos Penstemon is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: rock gardens, low water beds, border edges.
Wildlife value
Spring flowers are an early nectar source for native bees.
Common questions
- How much sun does Mancos Penstemon need?
- Mancos Penstemon grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Mancos Penstemon bloom?
- Mancos Penstemon blooms in May and June.
- Where is Mancos Penstemon native?
- Mancos Penstemon (Penstemon strictiformis) is native to AZ, CO, NM, UT, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What pollinators does Mancos Penstemon attract?
- Mancos Penstemon draws bees.
- Is Mancos Penstemon HOA-friendly?
- Mancos Penstemon is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Mancos Penstemon? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.