Penstemon gairdneri is a species of perennial plant in the Plantaginaceae family with the common name Gairdner's beardtongue. It is native to Washington, Oregon, and Idaho in the western United States.[1][2]
Penstemon gairdneri grows from a low branched, woody base, forming erect flower-bearing stems 10 to 40 cm tall. It also often has short densely-leafy stems lacking flowers that form a basal mat. Leaves are numerous and linear, up to 4 cm long and less than 3 mm wide and attach directly to the stems with no petiole. The showy purple to lilac flowers form at the top of leafy stems in a loose elongated cluster. They have a tubular throat that flares into 5 petal-like segments.[2]
Penstemon gairdneri grows in open dry habitat in eastern Washington and Oregon and southern Idaho, in low to moderate elevation hills and mountains. It is common in thin rocky soils above basalt bedrock, where it is often the only common Penstemon species.[2]
Penstemon gairdneri contains the following varieties:
Tall flower-bearing stems and basal sterile stems
Penstemon gairdneri is a species of perennial plant in the Plantaginaceae family with the common name Gairdner's beardtongue. It is native to Washington, Oregon, and Idaho in the western United States.
