Shrubs or subshrubs, usually cespitose. Stems ascending, 13–40 cm, glabrous or retrorsely hairy, usually in lines, not glaucous. Leaves persistent, 2–6 pairs, distals usually distinctly smaller than proximals, petiolate or sessile, (5–)6–50(–60) × 3–12 mm, blade lanceolate to oblanceolate or elliptic, base tapered to clasping, margins entire or ± serrate, or dentate, apex obtuse to acute, glabrous, not glaucous. Thyrses continuous to ± interrupted, secund, 3–11 cm, axis sparsely glandular-pubescent, sometimes also retrorsely hairy proximally, verticillasters 2–7, cymes 1-flowered; proximal bracts lanceolate, 4–16 × 1–5 mm; peduncles and pedicels ascending to erect, glandular-pubescent. Flowers: calyx lobes lanceolate to linear, (7–)9–13(–15) × 1.8–3 mm, glandular-pubescent; corolla bluish lavender to purplish or violet, unlined internally or lined with faint bluish lavender nectar guides abaxially, not personate, funnelform, 28–48 mm, glabrous externally, sparsely to moderately white-lanate or -villous internally abaxially, tube (5–)8–10 mm, throat 8–13 mm diam.; stamens included, pollen sacs 1–1.3(–1.5) mm; staminode 7–12 mm, slightly flattened distally, 0.1–0.3 mm diam., tip straight to recurved, distal 1–4 mm sparsely to densely pubescent, hairs yellow, to 1.2 mm; style 24–27 mm. Capsules 8–13 × 5.5–7 mm.

Distribution

w North America.

Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Penstemon fruticosus occurs widely across the Central and Northern Rocky mountains and Cascade Ranges from southwestern Alberta and interior British Columbia to northwestern Wyoming, southern Idaho, and southern Oregon.

Drug, food, fiber, dye, and decorative uses of Penstemon fruticosus are reported among six tribes of Native Americans in northwestern North America (D. E. Moerman 1998).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Penstemon fruticosus var. fruticosus, Penstemon fruticosus var. scouleri, Penstemon fruticosus var. serratus

Key

1	Leaf margins sharply serrate to dentate, at least distally, blades oblanceolate to elliptic, 6–25 × 3–8 mm; wc Idaho, ne Oregon, se Washington.	Penstemon fruticosus var. serratus
1	Leaf margins entire, serrate, or dentate, rarely sharply serrate or dentate, blades lanceolate to oblanceolate or elliptic, (5–)8–50(–60) × 3–12 mm; sw Alberta, s British Columbia, Idaho, sw Montana, Oregon, Washington, nw Wyoming.	> 2
2	Leaf blades lanceolate to oblanceolate or elliptic; corollas 28–40 mm; s British Columbia, Idaho, sw Montana, Oregon, Washington, nw Wyoming.	Penstemon fruticosus var. fruticosus
2	Leaf blades lanceolate; corollas 35–48 mm; sw Alberta, s British Columbia, n Idaho, ne Washington.	Penstemon fruticosus var. scouleri