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Cox, Fran

Penstemon laetus

Penstemon laetus A. Gray

Mountain Blue Penstemon, Mountain Blue Beardtongue, Western Gray Penstemon, Western Gray Beardtongue, Gray Penstemon, Gray Beardtongue

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: PELA7

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Woody at the base, this 1-3 ft. penstemon has several slender, purplish stems; gray-velvety leaves; and blue-violet to purple, widely gaping, tubular flowers in few-flowered, open clusters. At maturity the clumped perennial can be up to 2 ft. wide.

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.
Leaf: Gray-Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Blue , Purple , Violet
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: Violet to blue or purple, with or without violet nectar guides.

Distribution

USA: CA , OR
Native Distribution: C. to s.w. OR, s. to Ventura Co., CA & w. NV
Native Habitat: Dry, open, rocky slopes & flats

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Dry, rocky soils.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: 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.

Propagation

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

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
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 laetus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Penstemon laetus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Penstemon laetus

Metadata

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

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