It is to my amazement that no one has yet posted a thread on this most-sought-after of penstemons, Penstemon whippleanus, so here goes.
It took years of trying, but I finally hit it right - the seedex seeds actually turned out to be P. whippleanus - not the finest, darkest colour, perhaps, but a breakthrough, nonetheless! :D
It was kind of fun to key it out (successfully, I think):
1, 2) Purple flowers, with very elongated lower lip with sparse yellow beard; characteristic "leafy" inflorescence (an impression given by long, tapering calyx lobes); inflorescence nodding in bud
3, 4) Basal leaves often elliptic, to 90mm and ~1/3 as wide; upper leaves to 60mm and ~1/4 as wide; leaves usually entire (but very slightly, finely toothed on these plants)
5) Anther sacs open across the connective and out to the ends; navicular (boat-shaped) and glaucous
6) Staminode with very sparse yellow beard (sometimes not bearded)
References: Key to the Genus Penstemon - R. and K. Lodewick
Penstemons - R. Nold
I'd love to see what specimens others are growing, or have encountered in the wild of this species.
