Penstemon (3)

Scree Penstemon
Penstemon harbourii

Family: Plantain (Plantaginaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: July 16, 2004
Location: Poverty Gulch, GV, CO
Life Zones: Subalpine to alpine
Habitat: Scree and rocky areas

Grows in a spreading fashion at high elevations with wedge-shaped, light green leaves and large (1" long), showy purple flowers.

Creeping Penstemon
Penstemon caespitosus

Family: Plantain (Plantaginaceae)
AKA: Mat Penstemon
Photo taken on: July 10, 2008
Location: Taylor Canyon, GV, CO
Life Zones: Foothills to montane
Habitat: Dry rocky areas, sagebrush

Forms low mats up to 3ft across with short (to ½"), narrow, finely hairy leaves and numerous flowers at the end of the stems. It spreads by slender, prostrate, creeping stems.

Crandall's Beardtongue
Penstemon crandallii

Family: Plantain (Plantaginaceae)
AKA: Blue Pineleaf Beardtongue
Photo taken on: July 18, 2013
Location: CO 114, N of Cochetopa Pass, CO
Life Zones: Foothills to montane
Habitat: Dry rocky areas

Grows upright, not in mats, to 8". Leaves are narrow, hairless and longer (to 1") than P. caespitosus. The flowers grow on one side of the stem. The sterile stamen is bright orange and hairy, the same as the other species on this page.