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Pyle, Lynn

Penstemon serrulatus

Penstemon serrulatus Menzies ex Sm.

Serrulate Penstemon, Serrulate Beardtongue, Cascade Penstemon, Cascade Beardtongue, Coast Penstemon, Coast Beardtongue

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: PESE5

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)

Several 1-2+ ft., leafy stems rise from a woody base. The leaves spaced along the stalks are opposite, oval, rather stiff, and with sharp-pointed teeth. One to several whorls of deep blue to purple, tubular flowers are near the top of the flower stalk, bilaterally symmetrical flowers.

This is one of the few penstemons occurring west of the Cascade Range. Serrulatus refers to the little, serrated teeth on the leaves.

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 30 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Blue , Purple , Violet
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: Blue to violet or purple.

Distribution

USA: AK , OR , WA
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: S. B.C. to s. Lane Co., OR, w. of the crest
Native Habitat: A variety of moist to wet habitats from the coast to 6000 ft.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
Soil Description: Moist to wet soils.
Conditions Comments: The best penstemon for the mild, damp winters on the wet side of the mountains.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Hummingbirds
Attracts: Hummingbirds

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: Seeds germinate without difficulty although seedlings are easy prey to damp off. The root crown may be divided.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:		FACW	FACU							FACU

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

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

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

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

Metadata

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

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