Penstemon procerus

Small-flowered penstemon

 

   

            Image © 2004, Ben Legler                        Photo: bio.winona.edu

 

Range 

Widespread in the Pacific Northwest.  Grows from northern Canada and Alaska east to Montana, south to Colorado, and west to California.1, 2

 

Climate, elevation

Grows in wide range of climates at mid- to high elevations.3

 

Local occurrence
Widespread throughout Washington.4

 

Habitat preferences

Forest gaps at low to moderate elevations and dry, rocky slopes in alpine habitats. Also inhabits grassy hillsides and gravelly ridges; prefers moist sites.3, 4

 

Plant strategy type/successional stage

Late seral to climax.

 

Associated species

Oregon boxwood (Pachystima myrsinites), Mountain huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum), Alaska huckleberry (Vaccinium alaskaense), Cinquefoil (Potentilla gracilis), Phlox (Phlox diffusa), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).5

 

May be collected as

Seeds or cuttings.1

 

Collection restrictions or guidelines

No collection restrictions. Collect seed in mid-August when capsules mature and turn brown. Take cuttings in August.1

 

Seed germination

Various germination requirements are reported for this species: 

1)     Seed requires 30 day cold, moist stratification.5

2)     Seed requires diurnal fluctuating temperatures and light: 20°C in light and 30°C in dark.1

 

Seed life

Seeds live at least 5 years. 6

 

Recommended seed storage conditions

In sealed containers at 1° to 3°C. 6

 

Propagation recommendations

- Seed: Sow seeds in March; cover seeds with media; germination occurs at 21°C.1, 6

- Cuttings:  Plant cuttings in sandy soil, protect from frost.1

 

Soil or medium requirements

Use light, sandy soil for seeds and cuttings.  One recommended mixture contains 70% 6:1:1 milled sphagnum peat, perlite, and vermiculite and 30% sand.6

 

Installation form

Install as container seedlings/plants.6

 

Recommended planting density

No information available.

 

Care requirements after installed

No information available.

 

Normal rate of growth or spread; lifespan

Long-lived; forms clumps less than 2 ft. in diameter. 7

 

Sources cited

 

1. Rose, R., C.E.C. Chachulski and D.L. Haase.  Propagation of Pacific Northwest Native Plants.  Corvallis: Oregon State University Press. 

 

2.  United States Department of Agriculture. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PEPR2.  Accessed 9 April 2006.

 

3. Pojar, J. and A. MacKinnon.  1994.  Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska.  Vancouver, BC, Canada: British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing.

 

4.  Hitchcock, C.L. and A. Cronquist.  1973.  Flora of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.

 

5.  www.pilchuckaudubon.org/Wild_Sky_Botany.pdf. Accessed 10 April 2006.

 

6.  Native Plants Propagation Protocol Database.  http://nativeplants.for.uidaho.edu/.  Accessed 9 April 2006.

 

7. Lindgren, D. 1992. List and description of named cultivars in the genus Penstemon. University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

 

Data compiled by

Alaine Sommargren, 9 April 2006.