About Penstemon davidsonii Greene
Penstemon davidsonii is a low, mat-forming subshrub. It reaches 4 to 17 centimeters (1+1⁄2 to 6+3⁄4 inches) in height, and is usually no more than 10 cm (4 in) tall. Its stems are covered in either fine, short hairs, or stiff, backward-facing hairs. The leaves are small and evergreen. Each stem has five to ten pairs of leaves, which measure 0.5 to 3 centimeters in length, and are most often between 1 and 2 cm long. The leaf surface is either hairless or sparsely covered in fine hairs, and is never glaucous or waxy. Leaf edges may be smooth or toothed, and leaves often have a paler green, tan, or reddish edge. The flowers are tubular, range in color from blue-lavender to purple, and are large relative to the plant's short overall stature. The calyx is covered with short hairs. Larger plants often bloom abundantly, with the entire leaf mat nearly covered by these showy flowers. Penstemon davidsonii is native to North America. Its natural range extends from the Sierra Nevada Range in California and Nevada, through the Coast and Cascade ranges of Oregon and Washington, and into British Columbia. It grows on rocks or in rocky soils in sunny mountain locations.
