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 December
2003
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April
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 January
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Penstemon
davidsonii v menziesii
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Plant
of the Month
January
2003
Penstemon
davidsonii v menziesii
by Iza Goroff
Penstemon
davidsonii v menziesii is a member of the
Scrophulariaceae, a family which contains the genera
Antirrhinum (snapdragon), Mazus, Mimulus, and Veronica,
among others. It currently also contains the hemiparisitic
genera Castilleja, Orthocarpus, and Pedicularis, but those
are likely to be separated into another family, based on
recent DNA studies. Penstemon is possibly the largest genus
of the family with over 300 species, all (but perhaps one)
native to North and Central America.
Penstemon davidsonii v
menziesii is in the subgenus Dasanthera, commonly
called the "shrubby penstemons", ones which have woody
stems.
Penstemon
davidsonii v menziesii is native to the high
mountains of British Columbia, and Washington, usually above
5,000' (1,500m). Penstemon davidsonii
v davidsonii is found in the Cascades from southern
Washington through Oregon into northern California.
Penstemon davidsonii v
praeteritus is a disjunct population found in the
Steen Mountains of eastern Oregon. All varieties are
frequently found in near vertical crevices where they spread
over the volcanic rock with which they are mostly
associated.
Penstemon
davidsonii v menziesii is a very low plant, no more
than 3" (7cm), even in flower. It forms a tight mat,
spreading to a foot (30cm) or more over time. Its thick,
round to oval leaves are small, about 1/3" (0.8 cm) to twice
that, held close to the woody stem. The flowers are large
for the size of the plant from 1" to over 1.5 " (2.5cm -
4cm) long.
Penstemon
davidsonii v menziesii requires at least a half day
of sun, but it is best in an east or north exposure in areas
with very hot summers, and best where it can receive winter
shade, e.g. the north side of a rock, so its evergreen
foliage isn't frequently thawed and refrozen. It needs a
lean, sandy, well drained acid soil.
Penstemon
davidsonii v menziesii is easily propagated by seed.
Select forms can be multiplied by cutting.
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