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Anderson, Wynn

Penstemon thurberi

Penstemon thurberi Torr.

Thurber's Penstemon, Thurber's Beardtongue, Sand Penstemon, Sand Beardtongue

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

Synonym(s): Penstemon thurberi var. anestius

USDA Symbol: PETH3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Penstemon thurberi is almost 3 ft., shrub-like perennial with small, narrow, bright-green leaves on slender stems and 1/2 in., violet to pink to lavender, tubular flowers considered more interesting than showy. The growth habit is very symmetrical.

From the Image Gallery

6 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 32 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Purple , Violet
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: Lavender to violet to pink, with reddish purple nectar guides.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , NM , NV , TX
Native Distribution: NM & s. UT to s. CA
Native Habitat: Mesas; open, sandy or stony slopes; scrub-thickets; 2000 to 5000 ft.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Description: Sandy or gravelly soils.
Conditions Comments: Sand penstemon sometimes blooms again in the fall.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Propagate using half-woody cuttings or seed.
Seed Treatment: Germination is best with cold-moist stratification.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Tohono Chul Park, Inc. - Tucson, AZ

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 37 - Calscape (2019) California Native Plant Society
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Penstemon thurberi in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Penstemon thurberi in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Penstemon thurberi

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-22
Research By: TWC Staff

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