Penstemon (5)

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.

Flora of North America reference.

Creeping Penstemon
Penstemon caespitosus

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

Forms low mats to 3" high with short (to ½"), narrow to spatulate, finely hairy leaves and numerous flowers. It spreads by slender, prostrate, creeping stems.

Flora of North America reference.

Germander Beardtongue
Penstemon teucrioides

Family: Plantain (Plantaginaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: July 3, 2011
Location: Almont Triangle, GV, CO
Life Zones: Foothills to montane
Habitat: Gravelly areas, sagebrush

Grows to 4", erect or spreading, with 5 to 9 pairs of ash-colored, ½" long, narrow, finely hairy leaves. Flowers grow in whorls along the stems. Very similar to P. caespitosus, differentiated mainly by its ashy appearance. This species is found only in Gunnison County.

Flora of North America reference.

Crandall's Beardtongue
Penstemon crandallii

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

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

Flora of North America reference.

Crandall's Beardtongue
Penstemon crandallii ssp. procumbens (P. procumbens)

Family: Plantain (Plantaginaceae)
AKA: Crandall's Penstemon, Prostrate Penstemon
Photo taken on: July 18, 2019
Location: Above the Slate River, GV, CO
Life Zones: Montane
Habitat: Dry rocky areas

Grows in mats, to 3 feet across, less than 2" high. Leaves are ¾" long, glossy and rounded, unlike the similar-looking P. caespitosus. Flowers are dark blue to violet with pale throats and an orange beardtongue.

Identified from the American Penstemon Society.

Flora of North America reference.