Penstemon
Encyclopedia
Penstemon Beard-tongue, is a large genus
of North America
n and East Asia
n plants traditionally placed in the Scrophulariaceae
family. Due to new genetic research, it has now been placed in the vastly expanded family Plantaginaceae
. In the earlier Cronquist system
, it was placed in Scrophulariaceae
.
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They have opposite leaves, partly tube-shaped, and two-lipped flower
s and seed
capsule
s. The most distinctive feature of the genus is the prominent staminode
, an infertile stamen
. The staminode takes a variety of forms in the different species; while typically a long straight filament extending to the mouth of the corolla, some are longer and extremely hairy, giving the general appearance of an open mouth with a fuzzy tongue protruding and inspiring the common name beardtongue.
Most Penstemon are herbaceous perennials, the remainder being shrubs or subshrubs. Heights can range from 10 cm to as much as 3 metres.
The one Asiatic species previously treated in Penstemon is now placed in a separate genus Pennellianthus. This leaves Penstemon a mostly nearctic genus, with a few neotropical species. Although widespread across North America, and found in habitats ranging from open desert to moist forests, and up to the alpine zone, they are not typically common within their range.
s long used Penstemon roots to relieve toothache. John Mitchell
published the first scientific description in 1748; although he only named it as Penstemon, we can identify it as P. laevigatus
. Linnaeus then included it in his 1753 publication, as Chelone pentstemon, altering the spelling to better correspond to the notion that the name referred to the unusual fifth stamen (Greek "penta-", five). Mitchell's work was reprinted in 1769, continuing with his original spelling, and this was ultimately accepted as the official form, although Pentstemon continued in use into the 20th century.
Although several more species were found in the 18th century, they continued to be classified in Chelone until about the 1820s. The period of 1810 to 1850 increased the number of known species from 4 to 63, as expeditions traveled through Mexico and the western United States, followed by another 100 up to 1900.
During this time, seeds began to be offered for sale in Europe, the earliest known dating from 1813, with John Fraser offering four species in London, followed by Flanagan & Nutting offering nine species in their 1835 catalog. Subsequently many hybrids were developed in Europe.
Fieldwork in the remote parts of the Great Basin
during the 20th century brought the total number of species known to over 250. The genus was extensively revised by David Keck
between 1932 and 1957; in 1946 the American Penstemon Society was formed to promote both horticultural and botanical interest.
By 1860, a half-dozen French growers are known to have developed hybrids, most notably Victor Lemoine
, while in 1857 the German Wilhelm Pfitzer
listed 24 varieties. In 1861 the Royal Horticultural Society
held trials in which 78 varieties were entered. The Scottish firm of John Forbes
first offered penstemons in 1870, eventually becoming the biggest grower in the world; in 1884 their catalog listed 180 varieties. By 1900 Forbes had offered 550 varieties, while Lemoine had developed nearly 470 by the time of his death in 1911. Few of these have survived to the present day.
A number of different species have been used in the hybridization process, notably P. cobaeus and P. hartwegii.
In North America, Penstemon species are often used in xeriscape landscaping, as many are native to desert or alpine regions and thus quite hardy. One of the largest collections of penstemon species in North America is found at The Arboretum at Flagstaff, Arizona
, which hosts a Penstemon Festival each summer.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n and East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
n plants traditionally placed in the Scrophulariaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Scrophulariaceae, the figwort family, are a family of flowering plants. The plants are annual or perennial herbs with flowers with bilateral or rarely radial symmetry. Members of the Scrophulariaceae have a cosmopolitan distribution, with the majority found in temperate areas, including...
family. Due to new genetic research, it has now been placed in the vastly expanded family Plantaginaceae
Plantaginaceae
Plantaginaceae Juss. or plantain family, are a family of flowering plants in the order Lamiales. The type genus is Plantago L..In older classifications it used to be the only family of the order Plantaginales, but numerous phylogenetic studies, summarized by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, have...
. In the earlier Cronquist system
Cronquist system
The Cronquist system is a taxonomic classification system of flowering plants. It was developed by Arthur Cronquist in his texts An Integrated System of Classification of Flowering Plants and The Evolution and Classification of Flowering Plants .Cronquist's system places flowering plants into two...
, it was placed in Scrophulariaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Scrophulariaceae, the figwort family, are a family of flowering plants. The plants are annual or perennial herbs with flowers with bilateral or rarely radial symmetry. Members of the Scrophulariaceae have a cosmopolitan distribution, with the majority found in temperate areas, including...
.
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s and seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
capsule
Capsule (fruit)
In botany a capsule is a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. A capsule is a structure composed of two or more carpels that in most cases is dehiscent, i.e. at maturity, it splits apart to release the seeds within. A few capsules are indehiscent, for example...
s. The most distinctive feature of the genus is the prominent staminode
Staminode
In botany, a staminode is an often rudimentary, sterile or abortive stamen. This means that it does not produce pollen. Staminodes are frequently inconspicuous and stamen-like, usually occurring at the inner whorl of the flower, but are also sometimes long enough to protrude from the...
, an infertile stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
. The staminode takes a variety of forms in the different species; while typically a long straight filament extending to the mouth of the corolla, some are longer and extremely hairy, giving the general appearance of an open mouth with a fuzzy tongue protruding and inspiring the common name beardtongue.
Most Penstemon are herbaceous perennials, the remainder being shrubs or subshrubs. Heights can range from 10 cm to as much as 3 metres.
The one Asiatic species previously treated in Penstemon is now placed in a separate genus Pennellianthus. This leaves Penstemon a mostly nearctic genus, with a few neotropical species. Although widespread across North America, and found in habitats ranging from open desert to moist forests, and up to the alpine zone, they are not typically common within their range.
History
Native AmericanIndigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
s long used Penstemon roots to relieve toothache. John Mitchell
John Mitchell (geographer)
John Mitchell was a colonial American doctor and botanist. He created the most comprehensive and perhaps largest 18th-century map of eastern North America, known today as the Mitchell Map...
published the first scientific description in 1748; although he only named it as Penstemon, we can identify it as P. laevigatus
Penstemon laevigatus
Penstemon laevigatus is a plant in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. The flowers are borne in summer. Its native range includes much of the Eastern United States, from Maine to Michigan and Georgia to Mississippi. It can grow in either sunny or shady conditions....
. Linnaeus then included it in his 1753 publication, as Chelone pentstemon, altering the spelling to better correspond to the notion that the name referred to the unusual fifth stamen (Greek "penta-", five). Mitchell's work was reprinted in 1769, continuing with his original spelling, and this was ultimately accepted as the official form, although Pentstemon continued in use into the 20th century.
Although several more species were found in the 18th century, they continued to be classified in Chelone until about the 1820s. The period of 1810 to 1850 increased the number of known species from 4 to 63, as expeditions traveled through Mexico and the western United States, followed by another 100 up to 1900.
During this time, seeds began to be offered for sale in Europe, the earliest known dating from 1813, with John Fraser offering four species in London, followed by Flanagan & Nutting offering nine species in their 1835 catalog. Subsequently many hybrids were developed in Europe.
Fieldwork in the remote parts of the Great Basin
Great Basin
The Great Basin is the largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds in North America and is noted for its arid conditions and Basin and Range topography that varies from the North American low point at Badwater Basin to the highest point of the contiguous United States, less than away at the...
during the 20th century brought the total number of species known to over 250. The genus was extensively revised by David Keck
David Keck
David Keck is a Canadian author, and teacher, who has Masters Degrees in English Literature, History, and Education. He is best known for his novels based around the protagonist Durand Col. His works have received generally positive reviews from critics, yet have not reached the mainstream so...
between 1932 and 1957; in 1946 the American Penstemon Society was formed to promote both horticultural and botanical interest.
Horticulture
Although Penstemons are among the most attractive native flowers of North America, Europe has always been far more active in their cultivation, and hundreds of hybrids have been developed there since the early 19th century. The earliest development is somewhat shrouded in mystery; for instance Flanagan & Nutting's 1835 catalog mentions a 'Penstemon Hybridum' but does not describe it.By 1860, a half-dozen French growers are known to have developed hybrids, most notably Victor Lemoine
Victor Lemoine
Victor Lemoine was a celebrated and prolific French flower breeder who, among other accomplishments, created many of today's lilac varieties...
, while in 1857 the German Wilhelm Pfitzer
Wilhelm Pfitzer
Wilhelm Pfitzer was 40 years of age in 1844, when he gave up his learned profession to open a nursery, in his own name, on parental property at Militärstraße, Stuttgart in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, EU...
listed 24 varieties. In 1861 the Royal Horticultural Society
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
held trials in which 78 varieties were entered. The Scottish firm of John Forbes
John Forbes
John Forbes may refer to:*John Forbes *John Forbes *John Forbes , Scottish theologian; one of the six "Aberdeen doctors"...
first offered penstemons in 1870, eventually becoming the biggest grower in the world; in 1884 their catalog listed 180 varieties. By 1900 Forbes had offered 550 varieties, while Lemoine had developed nearly 470 by the time of his death in 1911. Few of these have survived to the present day.
A number of different species have been used in the hybridization process, notably P. cobaeus and P. hartwegii.
In North America, Penstemon species are often used in xeriscape landscaping, as many are native to desert or alpine regions and thus quite hardy. One of the largest collections of penstemon species in North America is found at The Arboretum at Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
, which hosts a Penstemon Festival each summer.
Species
- Penstemon abietinus Pennell Firleaf beardtongue
- Penstemon absarokensis Evert Absaroka Range beardtongue
- Penstemon acaulis L.O. Williams Stemless beardtongue
- Penstemon acuminatus Dougl. ex Lindl. Sharpleaf penstemon
- Penstemon alamosensis Pennell & Nisbet Los Alamos beardtongue
- Penstemon albertinus Greene Alberta beardtongue
- Penstemon albidus Nutt. White penstemon
- Penstemon albomarginalis M. E. Jones
- Penstemon albomarginatusPenstemon albomarginatusPenstemon albomarginatus is an uncommon species of penstemon known by the common name white-margined beardtongue. It is native to the deserts of southern Nevada and western Arizona, as well as in two desert washes in the Mojave Desert in California. It is a perennial herb with several erect stems...
M.E. Jones White margin penstemon, whitemargin beardtongue, whitemargin penstemon - Penstemon alluviorum Pennell lowland beardtongue
- Penstemon ambiguus Torr. bush penstemon, gilia beardtongue, gilia penstemon
- Penstemon ammophilus N. Holmgren & L. Shultz sandloving penstemon
- Penstemon anguineusPenstemon anguineusPenstemon anguineus is a species of penstemon known by the common name Siskiyou beardtongue. It is native to the mountains of Oregon and northern California, where it grows in coniferous forests, often in open areas left by logging operations. It is a perennial herb reaching up to about 90...
Eastw. Siskiyou beardtongue - Penstemon angustifolius Nutt. ex Pursh broad-beard beardtongue, broadbeard beardtongue, narrowleaf penstemon
- Penstemon arenarius Greene Nevada sanddune beardtongue, sanddune penstemon
- Penstemon arenicola A. Nels. sand penstemon
- Penstemon aridus Rydb. stiffleaf penstemon
- Penstemon arkansanus Pennell Arkansas beardtongue
- Penstemon attenuatus Dougl. ex Lindl. sulphur penstemon
- Penstemon atwoodii Welsh Kaiparowits beardtongue
- Penstemon auriberbis Pennell Colorado beardtongue
- Penstemon australis Small Eustis Lake beardtongue
- Penstemon azureusPenstemon azureusPenstemon azureus is a species of penstemon known by the common name azure penstemon. It is native to the mountains of Oregon and northern California, where it grows in coniferous forests and woodlands. It is a perennial herb, woody toward the base, with many thin branches reaching up to about 70...
Benth. azure penstemon - Penstemon baccharifolius Hook. baccharisleaf beardtongue
- Penstemon barbatusPenstemon barbatusPenstemon barbatus, known by the common names Golden-beard penstemon, Beardlip penstemon, and Scarlet bugler, is a flowering plant native to the western United States. In Spanish-speaking New Mexico and southern Colorado, it is called varita de San Jose -- "St...
(Cav.) Roth Golden-beard Penstemon, or Beardlip penstemon - Penstemon barnebyiPenstemon barnebyiPenstemon barnebyi is a species of penstemon known by the common names White River Valley beardtongue and Barneby's beardtongue. It is native to the mountain and basin territory of central western Nevada, where it grows in sagebrush and woodland; there is also one occurrence just over the...
N. Holmgren Barneby's penstemon, White River Valley beardtongue - Penstemon barrettiae Gray Barrett's beardtongue
- Penstemon bicolorPenstemon bicolorPenstemon bicolor is a species of penstemon known by the common name pinto beardtongue. It is native to the desert mountains and valleys of southern Nevada, eastern California, and western Arizona, where it grows in scrub, woodland, and other local habitat. It is a perennial herb which may exceed...
(Brandeg.) Clokey & Keck pinto beardtongue, pinto penstemon - Penstemon bracteatus Keck Red Canyon beardtongue
- Penstemon breviculus (Keck) Nisbet & R.C. Jackson shortstem beardtongue, shortstem penstemon
- Penstemon bryantiae Keck Bryant's beardtongue
- Penstemon buckleyi Pennell buckley penstemon, Buckley's beardtongue
- Penstemon caesiusPenstemon caesiusPenstemon caesius is a species of penstemon known by the common name San Bernardino beardtongue. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains, as well as the southern mountains of the Sierra Nevada. It is a member of the flora on rocky slopes and...
Gray San Bernardino beardtongue - Penstemon caespitosus Nutt. ex Gray mat penstemon
- Penstemon calcareusPenstemon calcareusPenstemon calcareus is a species of penstemon known by the common name limestone beardtongue. It is native to California, where it is known from the deserts of central San Bernardino County, as well as the Death Valley area, where its distribution extends just over the border into Nevada. It grows...
Brandeg. limestone beardtongue - Penstemon californicusPenstemon californicusPenstemon californicus is a species of penstemon known by the common name California penstemon. It is native to Baja California and is also known from fewer than 20 occurrences in California, mainly in Orange and Riverside Counties. It grows in the forest and woodland habitat of the Peninsular...
(Munz & Johnston) Keck California penstemon - Penstemon calycosus Small longsepal beardtongue
- Penstemon campanulatus (Cav.) Willd. bellflower beardtongue
- Penstemon canescens (Britt.) Britt. eastern gray beardtongue
- Penstemon cardinalis Woot. & Standl. cardinal beardtongue
- Penstemon cardwellii T.J. Howell Cardwell's beardtongue
- Penstemon carnosus Pennell fleshy beardtongue
- Penstemon caryi Pennell Cary's beardtongue
- Penstemon cedrosensis
- Penstemon centranthifoliusPenstemon centranthifoliusPenstemon centranthifolius is a species of penstemon known by the common name scarlet bugler. It is native to California and parts of Mexico, where it grows in many types of dry habitat from coast to desert, such as chaparral and oak woodland....
Benth. scarlet bugler - Penstemon cinicolaPenstemon cinicolaPenstemon cinicola is a species of penstemon known by the common name ash penstemon. It is native to northeastern California and southern Oregon, where it grows in forests and plateau habitat. It is a perennial herb with upright branches 40 centimeters in maximum height. The leaves are 3 to 6...
Keck ash penstemon - Penstemon cleavelandii Gray
- Penstemon clevelandiiPenstemon clevelandiiPenstemon clevelandii is a species of penstemon known by the common name Cleveland's beardtongue. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in mountain and desert habitat such as scrub, woodland, and chaparral. It is a perennial herb with upright, branching stems 70...
Gray Cleveland's beardtongue - Penstemon clutei A. Nels. Sunset Crater beardtongue, Sunset Crater penstemon
- Penstemon cobaea Nutt. cobaea beardtongue, Cobaea penstemon
- Penstemon comarrhenus Gray dusty beardtongue, dusty penstemon
- Penstemon compactus (Keck) Crosswhite compact penstemon
- Penstemon concinnus Keck Tunnel Springs beardtongue, Tunnel Springs penstemon
- Penstemon confertus Dougl. ex Lindl. yellow penstemon
- Penstemon confusus M.E. Jones Owens Valley beardtongue, Owens Valley penstemon
- Penstemon crandallii A. Nels. Crandall's beardtongue
- Penstemon crideri A. Nels. (pro sp.) Crider penstemon, Crider's penstemon
- Penstemon cusickii Gray Cusick's beardtongue
- Penstemon cyananthus Hook. Wasatch beardtongue
- Penstemon cyaneus Pennell blue penstemon
- Penstemon cyanocaulis Payson bluestem beardtongue
- Penstemon cyathophorus Rydb. Northpark penstemon, sagebrush beardtongue
- Penstemon dasyphyllus Gray Cochise beardtongue, purple penstemon
- Penstemon davidsonii Greene Davidson's penstemon, timberline penstemon
- Penstemon davidsonii var. praeteritus Steens Mountain penstemon
- Penstemon deamii Pennell Deam's beardtongue
- Penstemon deaveri Crosswhite Mt. Graham beardtongue
- Penstemon debilisPenstemon debilisPenstemon debilis, Parachute Penstemon or Parachute beardtongue, is one of the rarest plants in North America, found only 5 places in the world, all of them located on the Roan Plateau in Garfield County, of Western Colorado. The Denver Botanic Gardens has the Parachute Penstemon on display with...
O'Kane & J. Anderson Parachute beardtongue - Penstemon degeneri Crosswhite Degener's beardtongue
- Penstemon deustusPenstemon deustusPenstemon deustus is a species of penstemon known by the common names hotrock penstemon and scabland beardtongue. It is native to much of the northwestern United States from the Pacific Northwest to Wyoming, where it grows in many types of forest and open plateau habitat, often on soils heavy in...
Dougl. ex Lindl. scabland penstemon - Penstemon digitalisPenstemon digitalisPenstemon digitalis is a plant in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. The flowers are white, borne in summer. It is native to Eastern and Southeastern United States. Its common name is Beardtongue.-Description:...
Nutt. ex Sims talus slope penstemon - Penstemon diphyllus Rydb. twoleaf beardtongue
- Penstemon discolor Keck Cataiina beardtongue
- Penstemon dissectus Ell. dissected beardtongue
- Penstemon distans N. Holmgren Mt. Tumbull beardtongue
- Penstemon dolius M.E. Jones ex Pennell Jone's penstemon, Jones' beardtongue
- Penstemon dubius A. Davids. (pro sp.) dubius penstemon
- Penstemon eatoniiPenstemon eatoniiPenstemon eatonii is a species of penstemon known by the common name firecracker penstemon. It is native to the western United States from California to the Rocky Mountains, where it grows in many types of desert, woodland, forest, and open plateau habitat. It is a perennial herb producing several...
Gray Eaton penstemon, Eaton's penstemon, firecracker penstemon - Penstemon elegantulus Pennell rockvine penstemon
- Penstemon ellipticus Coult. & Fisher rocky ledge penstemon
- Penstemon eriantherus Pursh fuzzytongue penstemon
- Penstemon euglaucus English glaucous beardtongue
- Penstemon eximius Keck unusual beardtongue
- Penstemon fendleri Torr. & Gray fendler penstemon, Fendler's beardtongue, Fendler's penstemon
- Penstemon filiformisPenstemon filiformisPenstemon filiformis is an uncommon species of penstemon known by the common name threadleaf beardtongue. It is endemic to the Klamath Mountains of northern California, where it grows in forest and woodland, often on serpentine soils. It is a perennial herb growing up to half a meter tall, its stem...
(Keck) Keck threadleaf beardtongue - Penstemon flavescens Pennell high mountain penstemon
- Penstemon floribundus D. Danley Cordillia's beardtongue, Cordillia's penstemon
- Penstemon floridusPenstemon floridusPenstemon floridus is a species of penstemon known by the common name Panamint beardtongue. It is native to the lower mountain and plateau areas of eastern California and western Nevada, where it grows in canyons, arroyos, and sagebrush scrub. It is a perennial herb producing erect stems sometimes...
Brandeg. Panamint beardtongue, Panamint penstemon - Penstemon flowersii Neese & Welsh Flowers' beardtongue
- Penstemon franklinii Welsh Franklin's penstemon
- Penstemon fremontii Torr. & Gray ex Gray Fremont penstemon, Fremont's beardtongue
- Penstemon fruticiformisPenstemon fruticiformisPenstemon fruticiformis is a species of penstemon known by the common name Death Valley beardtongue. It is native to the deserts and nearby mountains of eastern California and western Nevada, where it grows in rocky scrub and woodland habitat. It is known from scattered occurrences around Death...
Coville Death Valley beardtongue, Death Valley penstemon - Penstemon fruticosus (Pursh) Greene bush penstemon
- Penstemon gairdneri Hook. Gairdner's beardtongue
- Penstemon gibbensii Dorn Gibbens' beardtongue
- Penstemon glaber Pursh sawsepal penstemon, western smooth beardtongue
- Penstemon glandulosus Dougl. stickystem penstemon
- Penstemon glaucinus Pennell blueleaf beardtongue
- Penstemon globosus (Piper) Pennell & Keck globe penstemon
- Penstemon goodrichii N. Holmgren Lapoint beardtongue
- Penstemon gormanii Greene Gorman's beardtongue
- Penstemon gracilentusPenstemon gracilentusPenstemon gracilentus is a species of penstemon known by the common name slender beardtongue. It is native to the mountains and sagebrush plateau of northeastern California, western Nevada, and southern Oregon, where it grows in forest, woodland, and scrub habitat...
Gray slender penstemon - Penstemon gracilis Nutt. lilac penstemon, slender penstemon
- Penstemon grahamii Keck Uinta Basin beardtongue
- Penstemon grandiflorusPenstemon grandiflorusPenstemon grandiflorus is a perennial plant of the genus Penstemon. Common names include large beardtongue.-External links:**...
Nutt. large beardtongue, largeflowered penstemon - Penstemon griffinii A. Nels. Griffin's beardtongue
- Penstemon grinnelliiPenstemon grinnelliiPenstemon grinnellii is a species of penstemon known by the common name Grinnell's beardtongue. It is endemic to California, where it can be found in several mountain ranges from those around the San Francisco Bay Area to the Sierra Nevada to the Peninsular Ranges near the Mexican border. It is a...
Eastw. Grinnell's beardtongue - Penstemon guadalupensis Heller Guadalupe beardtongue
- Penstemon hallii Gray Hall's beardtongue
- Penstemon harbourii Gray Harbour's beardtongue
- Penstemon harringtoni Penl.
- Penstemon harringtonii Penl. Harrington's beardtongue
- Penstemon hartwegii Benth. Hartweg's beardtongue
- Penstemon harvardii Gray
- Penstemon havardii Gray Big Bend beardtongue
- Penstemon haydeniiPenstemon haydeniiBlowout penstemon is a species of beardtongue in the Plantaginaceae family. The warm-season perennial plant is native to nine counties in the Nebraska Sand Hills and a single location in Carbon County, Wyoming. The plant has a milky-blue color with a waxy cuticle, pale purple leaves, and...
S. Wats. blowout beardtongue, blowout penstemon - Penstemon heterodoxusPenstemon heterodoxusPenstemon heterodoxus is a species of penstemon known by the common name Sierra beardtongue. It is native to California and western Nevada where it grows in several of the mountain ranges from the Klamath Mountains to the Sierra Nevada - and the slopes and plateaus to the east...
Gray Sierra beardtongue, Sierra penstemon - Penstemon heterophyllusPenstemon heterophyllusPenstemon heterophyllus is a species of penstemon known by the common names bunchleaf penstemon and foothill beardtongue. It is endemic to California, where it can be found in all of the major coastal mountain ranges and the northern Sierra Nevada foothills.-Description:Penstemon heterophyllus is a...
Lindl. bunchleaf penstemon - Penstemon hirsutus (L.) Willd. hairy beardtongue
- Penstemon humilis Nutt. ex Gray low beardtongue, low penstemon
- Penstemon idahoensis Atwood & Welsh Idaho beardtongue
- Penstemon immanifestus N. Holmgren Steptoe Valley beardtongue, Steptoe Valley penstemon
- Penstemon incertusPenstemon incertusPenstemon incertus is a species of penstemon known by the common name Mojave beardtongue. It is endemic to California, where it can be found in many of the southeastern mountain ranges, including the southern reaches of the Sierra Nevada, the Tehachapis, and the mountains of the Mojave Desert region...
Brandeg. Mojave beardtongue - Penstemon inflatus Crosswhite inflated beardtongue
- Penstemon jamesii Benth. James penstemon, James' beardtongue
- Penstemon janishiaePenstemon janishiaePenstemon janishiae is a species of penstemon known by the common names Antelope Valley beardtongue and Janish's beardtongue. It is native to the northwestern United States in sections of Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and northestern California, where it is a member of the flora in sagebrush, woodland, and...
N. Holmgren Antelope Valley beardtongue, Janish's penstemon - Penstemon jonesi Pennell
- Penstemon jonesii Pennell (pro sp.) Jones' penstemon
- Penstemon kingii S. Wats. King's beardtongue, King's penstemon
- Penstemon labrosusPenstemon labrosusPenstemon labrosus is a species of penstemon known by the common name San Gabriel beardtongue. It is native to the Transverse Ranges of southern California, including the San Gabriel Mountains, and the Peninsular Ranges to the south, its distribution extending into Mexico. It grows in forest and...
(Gray) Hook. f. San Gabriel beardtongue - Penstemon laetusPenstemon laetusPenstemon laetus is a species of penstemon known by the common name mountain blue penstemon. It is native to the inland mountains of Oregon and California, where its distribution extends from the Klamath Mountains through the Sierra Nevada to the Transverse Ranges. It grows in forest, scrub, and...
Gray mountain blue penstemon - Penstemon laevigatusPenstemon laevigatusPenstemon laevigatus is a plant in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. The flowers are borne in summer. Its native range includes much of the Eastern United States, from Maine to Michigan and Georgia to Mississippi. It can grow in either sunny or shady conditions....
Ait. eastern smooth beardtongue - Penstemon laevis Pennell southwestern beardtongue, southwestern penstemon
- Penstemon laricifolius Hook. & Arn. larchleaf beardtongue
- Penstemon laxiflorus Pennell nodding beardtongue
- Penstemon laxus A. Nels. tufted penstemon
- Penstemon leiophyllus Pennell smoothleaf beardtongue, smoothleaf penstemon
- Penstemon lemhiensis (Keck) Keck & Cronq. Lemhi penstemon
- Penstemon lentus Pennell handsome beardtongue, handsome penstemon
- Penstemon leonardii Rydb. Leonard's beardtongue, Leonard's penstemon
- Penstemon leptanthus Pennell Sevier Plateau beardtongue
- Penstemon linarioides Gray creeping penstemon, toadflax penstemon
- Penstemon longiflorus (Pennell) S.L. Clark longflower penstemon
- Penstemon lyallii (Gray) Gray Lyall's beardtongue
- Penstemon marcusii (Keck) N. Holmgren Marcus' beardtongue
- Penstemon mensarum Pennell tiger beardtongue
- Penstemon metcalfeiPenstemon metcalfeiPenstemon metcalfei is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common name Metcalfe's beardtongue. It is endemic to New Mexico in the United States, where it occurs in the Black Range....
Metcalfe's beardtongue - Penstemon mirus A. Nels. (pro sp.) bush penstemon, penstemon
- Penstemon miser Gray Malheur penstemon
- Penstemon moffatii Eastw. Moffatt's beardtongue
- Penstemon monoensisPenstemon monoensisPenstemon monoensis is a species of penstemon known by the common name Mono penstemon. It is endemic to the White and Inyo Mountains of eastern California, where it grows in scrub, woodland, and sandy washes. It is a perennial herb growing erect to about 30 centimeters tall, gray-green in color...
Heller Mono penstemon - Penstemon montanus Greene cordroot beardtongue
- Penstemon moriahensis N. Holmgren Mount Moriah penstemon, Mt. Moriah beardtongue
- Penstemon multiflorus Chapman ex Benth. manyflower beardtongue
- Penstemon murcronatus N. Holmgr.
- Penstemon murrayanus Hook. scarlet beardtongue
- Penstemon nanus Keck dwarf beardtongue
- Penstemon navajoaPenstemon navajoaPenstemon navajoa is a rare species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common name Navajo Mountain beardtongue, or Navajo beardtongue. It is endemic to Utah in the United States, where it is known only from San Juan County....
N. Holmgren Navajo Mountain beardtongue - Penstemon neomexicanus Woot. & Standl. New Mexico beardtongue
- Penstemon neotericusPenstemon neotericusPenstemon neotericus is a species of penstemon known by the common name Plumas County beardtongue. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the northern Sierra Nevada and adjacent southern peaks of the Cascade Range. It grows in forest, scrub, and other mountain habitat. It is a...
Keck Plumas County beardtongue
- Penstemon newberryiPenstemon newberryiPenstemon newberryi is a species of penstemon known by the common name mountain pride. It is native to the mountains of northern California, Oregon, and Nevada, where it grows in rocky habitat, often at high elevation, such as talus. It is a bushy, mat-forming subshrub growing up to 30 centimeters...
Gray mountain pride, pride-of-the-mountains - Penstemon nitidus Dougl. ex Benth. waxleaf penstemon
- Penstemon nudiflorus Gray Flagstaff beardtongue
- Penstemon oklahomensis Pennell Oklahoma beardtongue, Oklahoma penstemon
- Penstemon oliganthus Woot. & Standl. Apache beardtongue
- Penstemon ophianthus Pennell Arizona beardtongue, coiled anther penstemon
- Penstemon osterhoutii Pennell Osterhout's beardtongue
- Penstemon ovatus Dougl. ex Hook. eggleaf beardtongue
- Penstemon pachyphyllus Gray ex Rydb. thickleaf beardtongue, thickleaf penstemon
- Penstemon pahutensisPenstemon pahutensisPenstemon pahutensis is a species of penstemon known by the common name Pahute Mesa beardtongue, or simply Pahute beardtongue. It is native to the desert hills and mountains of southern Nevada, including the Pahute Mesa for which it is named. It can also be found in a few areas over the border in...
N. Holmgren Pahute penstemon, Paiute beardtongue - Penstemon pallidus Small pale beardtongue
- Penstemon palmeri Gray Palmer's penstemon, Palmer penstemon
- Penstemon papillatusPenstemon papillatusPenstemon papillatus is a species of penstemon known by the common name Inyo beardtongue. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the eastern Sierra Nevada and slopes to the east. It grows in rocky woodland and forest habitat types. It is a gray-green, hairy perennial herb growing...
J.T. Howell Inyo beardtongue - Penstemon parishii Gray (pro sp.) Parish's penstemon
- Penstemon parryiPenstemon parryiParry's Penstemon , also called Parry's beardtongue or Desert Penstemon, is a wildflower native to Southern Arizona and northern Mexico. It is a perennial that blooms in March and April. The plants flower in their second year.At the base of the plant are lanceolate leaves that grow in a rosette...
(Gray) Gray Parry penstemon, Parry's beardtongue - Penstemon parviflorus Pennell Montezuma County beardtongue
- Penstemon parvus Pennell Aquarius Plateau beardtongue
- Penstemon patensPenstemon patensPenstemon patens is a species of penstemon known by the common name Lone Pine beardtongue. It is native to the central Sierra Nevada of California and slopes and plateau to the east, its distribution extending just into Nevada. It grows in forest, woodland, and scrub habitat types. It is a...
(M.E. Jones) N. Holmgren Lone Pine beardtongue, Lone Pine penstemon - Penstemon payettensis A. Nels. & J.F. Macbr. Payette beardtongue
- Penstemon paysoniorum Keck Payson's beardtongue
- Penstemon peckii Pennell Peck's beardtongue
- Penstemon peirsonii Munz & I.M. Johnston (pro sp.) Peirson's penstemon
- Penstemon penlandiiPenstemon penlandiiPenstemon penlandii is a rare species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common names Penland penstemon and Penland's beardtongue. It is endemic to Colorado in the United States, where it is known only from a strip of land about five miles long in central Grand County. There are...
W.A. Weber penland beardtongue, Penland's beardtongue - Penstemon pennellianus Keck Blue Mountain beardtongue
- Penstemon perpulcher A. Nels. Minidoka beardtongue
- Penstemon personatusPenstemon personatusPenstemon personatus is an uncommon species of penstemon known by the common name Closethroat beardtongue.-Description:Penstemon personatus is a perennial herb producing mostly hairless, waxy stems up to about 50 centimeters tall. The leaves are located in opposite pairs along the stem, the...
Keck closethroat beardtongue - Penstemon petiolatus Brandeg. lime penstemon, petiolate beardtongue
- Penstemon pinifolius Greene pineneedle beardtongue, pineneedle penstemon
- Penstemon pinorumPenstemon pinorumPenstemon pinorum is a rare species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common name pinyon penstemon. It is endemic to Utah in the United States, where it is known only from an area along the border between Washington and Iron Counties.This plant was first described in 1985...
L.& J. Shultz Pine Valley penstemon - Penstemon platyphyllus Rydb. broadleaf beardtongue, broadleaf penstemon
- Penstemon pratensis Greene western whiteflower beardtongue, western whiteflower penstemon
- Penstemon procerusPenstemon procerusPenstemon procerus is a species of penstemon known by the common name littleflower penstemon. It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to Colorado, as far east in Canada as Manitoba, where it grows in mountain habitat such as meadows, often in alpine climates...
Dougl. ex Graham littleflower penstemon, pincushion beardtongue - Penstemon pruinosus Dougl. ex Lindl. Chilean beardtongue
- Penstemon pseudoparvus Crosswhite Mt. Washington beardtongue, San Mateo penstemon
- Penstemon pseudoputus (Crosswhite) N. Holmgren Kaibab Plateau beardtongue
- Penstemon pseudospectabilisPenstemon pseudospectabilisPenstemon pseudospectabilis is a species of penstemon known by the common name desert beardtongue, or desert penstemon. It is native to the southwestern United States, where it grows in desert and plateau habitat types, such as sandy washes, scrub, and woodland. The plant is generally a shrub...
M.E. Jones desert penstemon - Penstemon pudicusPenstemon pudicusPenstemon pudicus is a rare species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common names bashful beardtongue and Kawich Range beardtongue...
Reveal & Beatley bashful penstemon, Kawich Range beardtongue - Penstemon pumilus Nutt. Salmon River beardtongue
- Penstemon purpusiiPenstemon purpusiiPenstemon purpusii is an uncommon species of penstemon known by the common name Snow Mountain beardtongue. It is endemic to northern California, where it is known only from the Klamath Mountains and northern peaks of the North Coast Ranges. It grows in rocky open and forested mountain habitat...
Brandeg. Snow Mountain beardtongue - Penstemon putus A. Nels. Black River beardtongue
- Penstemon radicosus A. Nels. matroot penstemon
- Penstemon ramosus Crosswhite lanceleaf beardtongue, lanceleaf penstemon
- Penstemon rattanii Gray Rattan's beardtongue
- Penstemon retrorsus Payson ex Pennell Adobe Hills beardtongue
- Penstemon retrosus Payson Ex Pennell
- Penstemon rhizomatosusPenstemon rhizomatosusPenstemon rhizomatosus is a rare species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common name rhizome beardtongue. It is endemic to Nevada in the United States, where it occurs only in the Schell Creek Range of White Pine County....
N. Holmgren - Penstemon richardsonii Dougl. ex Lindl. cutleaf beardtongue
- Penstemon roezliiPenstemon roezliiPenstemon roezlii is a species of penstemon known by the common name Roezl's penstemon. It is native to Oregon, western Nevada, and adjacent sections of northern California, including the Klamath Mountains and Sierra Nevada, where it grows in sagebrush and forest habitat types...
Regel Roezl's penstemon - Penstemon rostriflorusPenstemon rostriflorusPenstemon rostriflorus is a species of penstemon known by the common name Bridge penstemon, or Bridges' penstemon. It is native to the southwestern United States, where it grows in many types of sagebrush, scrub, woodland, and forest habitat. It is a perennial herb growing in clumps of many erect...
Kellogg beaked beardtongue, beakflower penstemon , Bridge penstemon - Penstemon rubicundus Keck Wassuck penstemon, Wassuk Range beardtongue
- Penstemon rupicolaPenstemon rupicolaPenstemon rupicola is a species of penstemon known by the common name cliff beardtongue. It is native to the west coast of the United States from Washington to the Klamath Mountains of far northern California, where it grows in rocky mountainous habitat. It is a clumpy, mat-forming subshrub growing...
(Piper) T.J. Howell cliff beardtongue - Penstemon rydbergii A. Nels. meadow beardtongue, Rydberg penstemon, Rydberg's penstemon
- Penstemon saxosorum Pennell upland beardtongue
- Penstemon scapoidesPenstemon scapoidesPenstemon scapoides is an uncommon species of penstemon known by the common name pinyon beardtongue. It is endemic to Inyo County, California, where it grows in the scrub, woodlands, and forests of the mountain ranges above the desert. It is a clumpy perennial herb forming a dense mat of oval to...
Keck pinyon beardtongue - Penstemon scariosus Pennell White River beardtongue
- Penstemon secundiflorus Benth. sidebells penstemon
- Penstemon seorsus (A. Nels.) Keck shortlobe penstemon
- Penstemon sepalulus A. Nels. littlecup beardtongue
- Penstemon serrulatus Menzies ex Sm. serrulate penstemon
- Penstemon smallii Heller Small's beardtongue
- Penstemon spatulatus Pennell Wallowa beardtongue
- Penstemon speciosusPenstemon speciosusPenstemon speciosus is a species of penstemon known by the common name royal penstemon. It is native to the western United States where it can be found in many types of habitat, including plateau and foothill scrub and subalpine mountain forests. It is a perennial herb growing erect to a maximum...
Dougl. ex Lindl. prairie-clover, royal penstemon - Penstemon spectabilisPenstemon spectabilisPenstemon spectabilis is a species of penstemon known by the common name showy penstemon. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in the chaparral, scrub, and woodlands of the coastal mountain ranges.-Description:...
Thurb. ex Gray showy penstemon - Penstemon stenophyllus (Gray) T.J. Howell Sonoran beardtongue
- Penstemon stephensiiPenstemon stephensiiPenstemon stephensii is an uncommon species of penstemon known by the common name Stephens' beardtongue, or Stephens' penstemon. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the mountains of the Mojave Desert region. It grows in scrub, woodland, and sandy clearings, often on limestone...
Brandeg. Stephens' penstemon - Penstemon strictiformis Rydb. Mancos penstemon, stiff penstemon
- Penstemon strictusPenstemon strictusThe Rocky Mountain Penstemon is a penstemon with showy blue flowers.-Description:This species is a herbaceous perennial with a few stems rising nearly straight up from a thick crown. The leaves are long and narrow, with stem leaves smaller and especially narrower than the basal leaves. The...
Benth. Rocky Mountain beardtongue, Rocky Mountain penstemon - Penstemon subglaber Rydb. smooth penstemon
- Penstemon subserratus Pennell finetooth beardtongue
- Penstemon subulatus M.E. Jones hackberry beardtongue
- Penstemon sudansPenstemon sudansPenstemon sudans is a species of penstemon known by the common name Susanville beardtongue. It is native to northern Nevada and northeastern California, especially in the vicinity of Susanville, where it grows in scrub and forest habitat, often in rocky soils. It is a glandular, sticky perennial...
M.E. Jones Susanville beardtongue, Susanville penstemon - Penstemon superbus A. Nels. superb beardtongue
- Penstemon tenuiflorus Pennell eastern whiteflower beardtongue
- Penstemon tenuis Small sharpsepal beardtongue
- Penstemon teucrioides Greene germander beardtongue
- Penstemon thompsoniaePenstemon thompsoniaePenstemon thompsoniae is a species of penstemon known by the common name Thompson's beardtongue. It is native to the southwestern United States where it grows in woodlands and other desert and plateau habitat, to the subalpine climate of local mountains...
(Gray) Rydb. Thompson's penstemon, Thompson's beardtongue, Thompson penstemon - Penstemon thurberiPenstemon thurberiPenstemon thurberi is a species of penstemon known by the common name Thurber's beardtongue. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in many types of desert and mountain habitat, including sandy flats, chaparral, scrub, and woodlands...
Torr. Thurber's penstemon, Thurber penstemon - Penstemon tidestromii Pennell Tidestrom's beardtongue
- Penstemon tiehmii N. Holmgren Tiehm's beardtongue
- Penstemon tracyiPenstemon tracyiPenstemon tracyi is a rare species of penstemon known by the common names Trinity penstemon and Tracy's beardtongue. It is endemic to Trinity County, California, where it is known from fewer than 10 occurrences in the Trinity Alps, in the Klamath Mountains. It grows in exposed rocky outcrops and...
Keck Trinity penstemon - Penstemon triflorusPenstemon triflorusHeller's Penstemon , also called Heller's Beardtongue, is a penstemon notable for its showy, purple blossoms.-Distribution and habitat:Heller's Penstemon grows on the Edwards Plateau of Texas....
Heller Heller's beardtongue - Penstemon triphyllus Dougl. ex Lindl. Riggin's penstemon
- Penstemon tubiflorus Nutt. white wand beardtongue
- Penstemon tusharensis N. Holmgren Tushar Range beardtongue
- Penstemon uintahensis Pennell Uinta Mountain beardtongue
- Penstemon unilateralis Rydb. oneside penstemon
- Penstemon utahensisPenstemon utahensisPenstemon utahensis is a species of penstemon known by the common name Utah penstemon. It is native to the southwestern United States, where it grows in scrub, woodland, and canyons. It is a perennial herb growing erect to a maximum height near half a meter. The thick leaves are located around the...
Eastw. Utah penstemon - Penstemon venustusPenstemon venustusPenstemon venustus is a species of penstemon known by the common name Venus penstemon. It is native to the northwestern United States, where it grows in many types of open habitat. It is a spreading shrub growing erect to a maximum height near 80 centimeters. The thick, stiff leaves are...
Dougl. ex Lindl. Venus penstemon - Penstemon virens Pennell ex Rydb. Front Range beardtongue
- Penstemon virgatus Gray upright blue beardtongue
- Penstemon wardii Gray Ward's beardtongue
- Penstemon washingtonensis Keck Washington beardtongue
- Penstemon watsonii Gray Watson's penstemon, Watson's beardtongue, Watson penstemon
- Penstemon whippleanus Gray dark beardtongue, Whipple's penstemon
- Penstemon wilcoxii Rydb. Wilcox's penstemon
- Penstemon wrightii Hook. Wright's beardtongue
- Penstemon yampaensis Penl. Yampa beardtongue
Notations
- David Way & Peter James, The Gardener's Guide to Growing Penstemons (David & Charles Publishers, 1998) ISBN 0-7153-0550-6