Penstemon davidsonii
# Penstemon davidsonii

Penstemon davidsonii is a species of penstemon known by the common name Davidson's penstemon, honoring Dr. George Davidson. It is native to North America from the Sierra Nevada Range in California and Nevada through the Coast and Cascade ranges of Oregon and Washington into British Columbia.

## Description

Penstemon davidsonii is a low, mat-forming perennial up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) tall. The leaves are up to 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) long, thick and firm, usually glabrous, with entire to serrulate margins. The leaves often have a paler green, tan, or reddish edge. The flowers are tubular, blue-lavender to purple, and large relative to the short stature of the plant. The calyx is covered with short hair. Larger plants often flower abundantly, with the leaf mat nearly covered with the showy flowers.

Penstemon davidsonii is included in Penstemon subgenus Dasanthera, along with P. barrettiae, P. cardwellii, P. ellipticus, P. fruticosus, P. lyallii, P. montanus, P. newberryi, and P. rupicola.

## Habitat

Penstemon davidsonii grows on rocks or in rocky soils in sunny mountain locations.

## Varieties

* P. davidsonii var. davidsonii – Davidson's penstemon
* P. davidsonii var. menziesii (D.D. Keck) Cronquist – Menzies' penstemon
* P. davidsonii var. praeteritus Cronquist – timberline beardtongue
