Scientific Family
Scrophulariaceae
Synonyms
Penstemon thurberi var. anestius
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
To 1-1/2 feet
Riparian
No
Weedy or brushy in appearance with weak stems that lie or grow on the ground with erect or rising tips.
Corolla blue-purple, funnel-shaped, few hairs at the flower orifice, throat with ridges, staminode (nonfunctional stamen) without hairs; leaves narrow, green or grayish, without teeth, having an abrupt tip.
Habitat
Sandy or rocky slopes, roadside in lower elevations, chaparral and woodlands.
Plant Community
Disturbed Areas
Grasslands
Interior Chaparral
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Low elevation
2000
High elevation
5000
Flower Characteristics
Five petals; 1/2 inch in size.
Flower color
Pinkish or pale blue-purple
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves narrow, linear in shape with edges rolled upward nearly into a tube. Many slender stems emerge from a woody base.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Bright green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
Yes
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit type
Capsule