Download Small Penstemons for Small Rock Gardens and Troughs

Small Penstemons for Small Rock Gardens and Troughs
Gwen Kelaidis
Kelaidis, Gwen. 1986. Bulletin of the American Penstemon Society 45(2): 44-46. (with minor
editing)
The following is an offering of the smallest Penstemons. Since there are so many species
in this genus, one really can't hope to grow them all; it would be fun to have all the cute ones that
are under 12" tall. Not all those mentioned are in cultivation.
Golden Tongues (Aurator)1
eriantherus - varies from 3-12", large lavender flowers on a hairy plant. grahamii - the
baby-bird penstemon, with upturned mouth full of golden fuzz 6"
concinnus, dolius, janishae, miser, pumilus all should be under 10 inches and all like desert
habitats and have fine gray hairs on the leaves
Mat Penstemons (Ericopsis)2
acaulis - the smallest, under 2", with flowers buried in the foliage.
caespitosus - the usual forms may be too spreading at 2-3' diameter, but some subspecies, such as
perbrevis and desertipicti (indistingishable except by length of the anthers), are smaller and
gray-foliaged.
californicus - reputed to be 10" and lovely
laricifolius - distinctive for linear leaves in a tuft at the base of the flowering stems, and for the
luminescence of the flowers. The type form is an enchanting pink with maroon overtones in
bud, and the subspecies exilifolius is shining white. Both short at 4-8"
teucrioides - blue-green foliage and lovely blue or white flowers, a charming mat draped over
the edge of a trough or a rock.
tusharensis - also blue foliage but grayer, and the flowers seem more a winey purple, at least in
the form seen so far in cultivation. A sub-alpine plant which doesn't seem to thrive on
desiccation
thompsoniae - almost white, bluish foliage and an upright habit, though still under the 10" limit.
A desert species
yampaensis - a slightly larger version of acaulis, with olive green leaves. Both are endemic to a
small section of the Utah-Wyoming-Colorado corner region
Shrubbies (Dasanthera)
davidsonii - green, small leaves, also very short, with lavender flowers. Its subspecies, menziesii,
is shorter yet and usually has toothed leaves
montanus - hairy leaves and stems up to 8", a plant of very rough talus slopes. Formally thought
to be ungrowable, but Jim Borland had plants from cuttings available at the Mother's Day
1
2
In 2007 known as Section Cristati
Subgenus Ericopsis
2
Sale, and at least some people have very healthy looking plants now
rupicola - round, gray leaves, pink flowers, fuzzy stamens; a true mat; often hybridzes in gardens
True Blue Blues (Coerulei)
angustifolius - in its smaller version a mere 5", with turquoise flowers; narrow, glaucous blue leaves
nitidus - blue flowers, a rosette of blue leaves, and a habit of dying out from too much water
Harbour's (Harbourii)
absarokensis - a recently named species from Wyoming and it looks like it's worth
going after
harbourii - another prostrate pent of mountain screes and limited distribution; lilac flowers
Smooth and Green (Habroanthus)
caryii - 4", blue flowers
fremontii - to 10", blue flowers, green leaves,
desert habit, well-flowered around the stem,
hallii - to 8", heavily flowering and a lovely
lavender.
uintahensis - a small caryi
In Section Penstemon (Graciles3, Humiles, Proceri)
humilis - 4-12", blue to violet flowers, lovely. aridus - a tiny tuft with 6-8" stems of blue
flowers. Choice!
hirsutus ssp. pygmaeus - 4-6", with closed-mouth flowers of purple touched with white. Leaves
with purplish hues too, especially lovely in winter
procerus - 4-14" so look for the dwarf forms; flowers are tiny but numerous
flavescens- balls of creamy yellow flowers on 6-10"stems
3
No longer listed as a classification heading