Species Identification

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

Attribute	The current selection is Penstemon_tubaeflorus
Classification	Penstemon Penstemon Penstemon Tubaeflori
General	Trumpet-flowered Penstemon. Blooms: early May to late June.
Anther	Black, widely spreading, becoming explanate (open flat).
Staminode	Sparsely yellow-bearded, included.
Leaves	Basal leaves few, to 10 cm (4”) tall & ¼ as wide; upper leaves 1/5-1/7 as wide, essentially entire, broadly lanceolate.
Stems	6-9 dm (24-36”) tall, herbage glabrous (smooth).
Inflorescense	Cyme held close to stem, 2-6 cm long, 2-5-flowered (rarely to 10 cm & 16-flowered); inflorescence narrow and circling.
Corolla	15-20 mm (1/2-3/4”) long, nearly regular (not 2-lipped), glistening white outside & within, expanded gradually from long narrow tube to large spreading lobes, mouth at slightly oblique angle, lip not bearded; no guidelines, floriferous.
Flower Color
Calyx	3-4 mm (<1/4”) long.
Habitat	Sandy or light loam.
Range	Scattered outposts in MI, e NE and sw WI and into Atlantic States show a weed-like spread or human conditions.” Pennell var. tubaeflorus: Lower stem leaves broad, 1/3 as wide as long Nebraska south to e. TX, LA, n to WI, ne to PA, New England. var. anchoreus Fernald: Lower stem leaves medium width, 1/5 as wide as long, PA to Ont. Canada, New England.