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Anderson, Wynn

Penstemon fendleri

Penstemon fendleri Torr. & A. Gray

Fendler's Penstemon, Fendler's Beardtongue, Fendler Penstemon, Fendler Beardtongue, Purple Foxglove

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: PEFE

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

This perennial grows 12-24 in. tall, slender and erect. The stem and thick, opposite leaves have a whitish look, making the plant appear pale- or grayish-green. The inflorescence is sometimes more than half the height of the plant, with soft lavender flowers growing in loose cluster of 2-3 up the stem. The petals are joined, forming a two-lipped, funnel-shaped blossom.

From the Image Gallery

29 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 2 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Blue , Purple , Violet
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul
Bloom Notes: Lavender to violet or bluish, with violet or reddish purple nectar guides.

Distribution

USA: AZ , KS , NM , OK , TX
Native Distribution: S.w. KS, s. to w. TX, s.e. AZ, and Chihuahua in Mex.
Native Habitat: Prairies; mountains at lower elevations

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Description: Calcareous, rocky or sandy soils.

Benefit

Nectar Source: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

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

From the National Organizations Directory

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

Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Tohono Chul Park, Inc. - Tucson, AZ

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-1314 Collected 2009-06-02 in Presidio County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

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

Metadata

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

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