Penstemon thurberi Torr.

Nomenclature

Penstemon thurberi is a species of penstemon with the common names Thurber's beardtongue and Thurber's penstemon.

General Distribution

It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in many types of desert and mountain habitat, including sandy flats, chaparral, scrub, and woodlands.

Growth Form

It is an erect, somewhat rounded shrub that reaches a maximum height of around 80 centimeters.

Stem Characteristics

Many slender stems emerge from its woody base.

Leaf Characteristics

Its leaves are narrow and linear, with edges rolled upward nearly into a tube.

Flower Characteristics

The long inflorescence bears funnel-shaped lavender, pink, or pale blue-purple flowers that grow up to 1.5 centimeters in length.

US Native Range

In the United States, it is native to Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, and Texas.

Mexico Native Range

In Mexico, it grows in only two widely separated states: Baja California and Coahuila.

Baja California Subrange

In Baja California, it is found from the Sierra de Juárez northwards to the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir, across the border to the Little San Bernardino Mountains and Providence Mountains of California.

Habitat Substrate

It grows on rocky hillsides and silty flats.