Foothills. Canyons, openings, shrublands. Summer.
Mona and Mike's Five Springs Farm, July 20, 2009.

Penstemon rostriflorus is an unusual Penstemon on several counts: it is woody, evergreen, and shrub-like.  It blooms in mid-to-late summer with flowers that strongly resemble those of Penstemon barbatus. 

Asa Gray named this plant Penstemon bridgesii in 1868 and that name remained with the plant for a century until research showed that Kellogg had named it Penstemon rostriflorus in 1860.  "Rostriflorus" means "beaked flower".

Foothills. Canyons, openings, shrublands. Summer.
Mona and Mike's Five Springs Farm, July 20, 2009.

Penstemon rostriflorus is often found on the rim rock above Canyons in the Four Corners area.

Foothills. Canyons, openings, shrublands. Summer.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, May 4, 2009.

Stems grow both upright and sprawling; dried, beige flower stems persist for several years; and darker, thicker, woody stems (lower right of photograph) support the entire plant.

Foothills. Canyons, openings, shrublands. Summer.
Mona and Mike's Five Springs Farm, July 20, 2009.

Flowers and stems of P. rostriflorus have glandular hairs so sticky that small insects are trapped (top of stem in first photograph at left and base of flower in second photograph).  The tan anther sacs do not have hairs (as the third photograph at left shows).  Compare these flowers to those of Penstemon barbatus.

Foothills. Canyons, openings, shrublands. Summer.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, May 4, 2009.

Seed pods remain on the plant for a year and are quite noticeable.

To Blue/Purple Penstemons