Species Identification

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

Attribute	The current selection is Penstemon_hirsutus
Classification	Penstemon Penstemon Penstemon Penstemon
General	Fuzzy Penstemon [syn: Chelone hirsuta (L.) This species is a non-fussy garden plant with many cultivars from dwarf to white to pink. Notice that it was named by the famed European botanist Carlos Linnaeus (L.). Blooms: May to July.
Anther	Blue-black, smooth, opening across the connective almost flat (explanate).
Staminode	Golden bearded, slightly projecting beyond orifice.
Leaves	Mostly in a basal rosette, to 1.5 dm (6”) long, & ¼-1/10 as wide, upper leaves to 1 dm (4”) long and 1/5-1/8 as wide, sometimes folded & arched, lanceolate, green, turning maroon in winter, finely to coarsely toothed.
Stems	2-6 dm (8-24”) stem leafy, purplish, with sticky-fuzzy herbage that shines in sunlight.
Inflorescense	Open panicles, cyme 1-5 cm (1/2-2”) long, 3-9 flowered.
Corolla	23-32 mm (1-1 1/4”) long, narrow, uplifted palate, closed white lips (until visited by a bee), lavender, violet or pink, glandular hairy, no guidelines.
Flower Color
Calyx	3-5 mm (1/4”) long, lobes often purplish with sharp tip.
Habitat	Sun or part-shade in hot, dry climates, probably woodland edges, low elevations.
Range	Quebec, CA and MI, WI south to RN, VA and KY and New England.