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Penstemon serrulatus

Coast Penstemon

At a Glance: Perennial, sprawling sub-shrub from a woody stem base, with large purple tubular flowers at stem tips.

Height: 8-28 inches (20-70 cm).
Growth Form: Herb.
Stems: Several leafy and hairless to hairy stems, branching, woody base.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, hairless and stalkless, saw toothed; lower leaves are reduces and often stalked; shape: lance to oblong egg-shaped; size: 3-8 cm (1-3 in).
Flowers: Hairless, deep blue to dark purple tubular flowers on short stalks in 1 to several compact clusters at stem tips; 4 fertile stamens; size: 17-25 mm long.
Flowering Period: May, June, July.
Fruits: Dry capsules 5-8 mm long.


Photo © Ben Legler

Sun/Shade Tolerance	Hydrology	Elevation Range
full sun > 80% mostly sunny 60%-80% partial sun and shade 40%- 60% mostly shady 60%-80% full shade > 80%	wet moist dry	low elevation mid elevation sub-alpine high elevation

Soil Preferences
(data not available)

Habitat Preferences
Aquatic and Wetland: Ponds or lakes Shallow pools Sloughs Swales or wet ditches Seasonally inundated areas Marshes or swamps Aquatic bed wetlands Emergent wetlands Scrub-shrub wetlands Forested wetlands Bogs, fens Seeps, springs Shorelines and Riparian: Lake shores Bog margins Streams or rivers Stream or river banks Riparian corridors River bars Floodplains Bottomlands Alluvial areas	Saltwater Areas: In or near saltwater Mud flats Tidal areas Estuaries Saltmarshes Brackish water Seashores Coastal dunes or beaches Rocky or Gravelly Areas: Coastal bluffs Cliffs Rocky slopes Outcrops Crevices Glacial outwash Gullies Slide areas Sub-alpine and Alpine: Heaths Snow beds Tundra Avalanche tracks	Forests and Thickets: Forests and woods Open forests Coniferous forests Old growth forests Deciduous forests Mixed forests Nurse logs Forest edges, openings, or clearings Thickets Meadows and Fields: Pastures or fields Meadows or grassy areas Mossy areas Disturbed Areas: Roadsides Trailsides Logged sites Burned areas Disturbed sites

Wildlife Value
Berries Seeds Nectar for hummingbirds Nectar for butterflies Host for insect larvae Thickets and shelter Thorny or protective cover	Insects: Bumblebees, night-flying moths, and butterflies (swallowtails, common wood nymphs, and Lorquins admirals) are attracted to the flowers of penstemons

Ethnobotanical Uses and Other Facts

Name Info: Penstemon is from Latin (pente = 5 and stemon = stamens). The flowers have 4 fertile stamens and 1 sterile.
Interesting Facts: Penstemons also called beard-tongues because of their hairy throats and lower lips of the flowers. Some species also have hairy stamens or anthers.

Suggested References

Hitchcock, C.L., A. Cronquist. 1973. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Page 436.
Link, R. 1999. Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Page 283.
Lyons, C., W. Merilees. Trees and Shrubs to Know in Washington and British Columbia. Lone Pine Publishing. Page 302.
Pojar, J., A. Mackinnon. 1994. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Lone Pine Publishing. Page 266.

The landscaping and restoration information provided on this page is taken from Starflower Foundation Image Herbarium. All photographs © Starflower Foundation unless otherwise noted.