Species Identification

Interested in the identification of penstemons? Please select a species then click on submit:

Attribute	The current selection is Penstemon_cobaea
Classification	Penstemon Penstemon Cristati
General	Wild Foxglove Penstemon, Wild White Snapdragon Due to large blossoms, the species has been used for hybridization with P. hartwegii, P. triflorus and others, producing many garden hybrids. Blooms: May and June.
Anther	Peltate-explanate (flatly open, shield shape), spreading, dark color.
Staminode	Slight beard, tuft of 3 mm long hair at tip.
Leaves	Lower ones very long, to 20 cm (8”) long & ¼ as wide; upper leaves very broad, often ovate, to 12 cm (5”) long & ½-1/3 as wide, serrate (or entire) leaves at abase, youthful basal rosette disappears with maturity.
Stems	15-100 cm (6-39”) tall, few to many stout stems closely growing, stiffly upright.
Inflorescense	Cymes 1-2 cm (3/8-3/4”) long, 2-5 flowered.
Corolla	The largest penstemon flower, 35-60 mm (1 ¼-2 ¼”) long, white or pinkish shades depending on variety, expanded widely to wide mouth, lobes large, lip not bearded, guidelines prominent on all lobes.
Flower Color
Calyx	7-16 mm (¼-5/8”) long lobes broad with long tip.
Habitat	Calcareous (limey) loamy soils with above 38 cm (15” precipitation).
Range	subspecies typicus: corolla pale violet-purple or white or pink; foliage pale green, open prairies from southeastern NE southward to KS and OK to coast plain of se TX. subspecies purpureus: corolla deep purple; foliage deeper green, rocky calcareous barrens and cliffs, valley of the White River, Ozark Mts. of n AR and s MS.