Shrubby Penstemon (Penstemon fruticosus)

Shrubby Penstemon
Penstemon fruticosus

Daryl,
Nice photo. This photo and the next one that you posted appear to be of a penstemon (or related genus), rather than of Campanula lasiocarpa. Note the flattened tubular flowers, as compared to the bell-shaped flowers that are characteristic of campanula.
altagardener

This message was edited Mar 24, 2008 6:52 PM

Yup I think I made a boo boo posting Thanks Alta. Winter over in Calgary yet lol?? Grrr was nice a few weeks ago here now its cold again brrrrrrr!

Daryl

Thanks for working this out you two. I would be happy to move the photos to the correct entry if we can determine where it should go.

Daryl, it's still intermittently winter-ish here too... a skiff of snow on the ground now, and supposed to be cool for the weekend, oh well.
I'd suggest it might be Penstemon fruticosus, based on my impression that it fits the following:
- not P. lyallii since inflorescence is not paniculate; P. fruticosus has a racemose inflorescence, which seems to fit
- for P. fruticosus: "leaves linear-lanceolate, sharply serrate to nearly entire [so rather variable]; upper leaves of floral shoots much reduced; calyx densely glandular-hairy, the lobes slender, attentuate-caudate; corolla 3.5-4.5 cm long [yes?], lilac-purple"; "yellow-bearded" [? - I can't tell from the photo]; (that shown in italics is from Flora of Alberta, Moss, Packer, 1983; my notes shown in square brackets).

P. fruticosus is present through southern BC (and in Alberta, through to Oregon, Montana, Wyoming), so if this plant was photographed in the vicinity of Vernon, it would not be out of range.

The shape of the stamens is important to the identification of penstemons, but it would be a rare photo that captures that detail, so unfortunately that aspect can't be examined.

What do you think, Daryl? (NOTE: I'm just learning, painfully, how to key out species.) I'd be very interested in hearing other opinions on its identity.


This message was edited Mar 28, 2008 9:35 PM

Well Alta for someone just learning your methods and thoroughness are spot on, good work !Yes I concur it is the penstemon fruticosus (shrubby penstemon),I must have made a hasty entry and do apologize (sorry Joan)lol .Also common here in Vernon are the penstemon confertus and the penstemon procerus.You have inspired me to go forth this summer with the ol' macro lens and get a stamen pic to add to the files . Thanks for your efforts Alta ,and happy gardening.

Daryl

Thanks! I've moved the photos to the Penstemon fruticosus entry.

Thank you Joan.

Daryl

You're very welcome! Thanks to you both for working through this. :)