Scientific Family
Scrophulariaceae
Other common names
Palmer's beardtongue
scented beardtongue
scented penstemon
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
To 4 feet
Riparian
No
The tallest penstemon in the Southwest and one of the few fragrant penstemons. The flowers are designed for bee pollination, providing a landing platform and a swollen tube to accommodate the chubby bodies of bumblebees.
Stems smooth, hairless. Leaves are obviously toothed, the base of the uppermost leaves are fused around the stem. Flower petals strongly two-lipped, abruptly inflated from a tube not longer than the sepals, pale pink to pink, white throats, purple guides.
Habitat
Oak, pinyon juniper woodlands and montane conifer forests; along roadsides, washes, slopes, among sagebrush, canyon floors.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
3500
High elevation
6800
Flower Characteristics
Flowers, 1-1/2 inches long, in an open or dense spike cluster that is up to 2 feet long; each balloon-like bloom has 2 lobes flaring backwards and three lobes bending downward; lobes are streaked with magenta. Flowers are on one side of the stems.
Flower color
Pale pink to pink
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leathery leaves, 1 to 5 inches long with toothed or wavy margins; uppermost opposite leaves are joined at their bases around the stem.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf shape
Triangular
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
Yes
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Erect capsules are 1/2 inch long.
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit color
Tan
Black.