Species Identification

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

Attribute	The current selection is Penstemon_triflorus
Classification	Penstemon Penstemon Cristati
General	Three-flowered Penstemon. Blooms: March to May.
Anther	Spreading, 1 mm long, ovate lobes.
Staminode	Bearded or not.
Leaves	Irregularly toothed to entire and form a large basal clump at bloom time.
Stems	25-65 cm (10-28”) tall.
Inflorescense	Cyme 2-3 flowered.
Corolla	Large, 25-35 mm (1-1 ¼”) long, white, shades of pink to lavender, expanded gradually from long, narrow tube to spreading lobes.
Flower Color
Calyx	8-11 mm (to 3/8”) long.
Habitat	: Rocky, calcareous (limey) soils, often on bluffs, central TX, eastern Edwards Plateau and upper valley of Colorado R. in Texas Hill section.
Range	East central to west central TX. var. triflorus: Upper leaves very broad, to 8 cm (3”) long and 1/3 as wide; lower leaves to 10 cm (4”) long & 1/5 as wide, usually slightly toothed; corolla white pink or rose-red to 25-35 cm long; calyx 8-11 mm long; staminode with beard ½ its length or not bearded, east-central TX. var. integrifolius Pennell [synonym: P. helleri 1898]” Leaves narrow to 10 cm (4”) long & 1/7 as wide, mostly entire; longer stems so thyrse is lax; corolla pink-lavender to purple, medium size, 20-30 mm (3/4-2”) long, moderately inflated throat, rounded beneath; calyx 5-8 mm (to ¼”) long; staminode with slight beard at tip with short, yellow hairs, west central TX.