Penstemon virens
front range beardtongue
Colorado Front Range and southeastern Wyoming
Overview
Penstemon virens is a low, clump-forming evergreen perennial reaching 8-16 inches (20-40 cm) tall in flower, with a basal rosette spreading 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) wide. Basal leaves are oval to lance-shaped, 1-2.5 inches (2.5-6 cm) long, glossy dark green, and persist through winter. In late spring, slender upright stems carry narrow clusters of tubular, two-lipped flowers 0.5-0.75 inch (13-19 mm) long, blue to blue-violet with faint guidelines in the throat. Each stem holds several whorls of flowers opening from the base upward over two to three weeks. The foliage forms a dense, ground-hugging mat between bloom periods. Plants are short-lived, typically persisting three to five years, and self-sow where soil is open. Native to dry, gravelly montane sites, the species needs sharp drainage and declines in heavy, wet soils. It tolerates cold to about -30 F (-34 C) but is sensitive to winter wet and crown rot in poorly drained ground.
Native Range
Native to the Front Range and foothills of Colorado and southeastern Wyoming, between about 5,500 and 9,000 feet (1,700-2,700 m). Grows on dry, gravelly slopes, pine woodland openings, and rocky outcrops.Suggested Uses
Planted in rock gardens, gravel gardens, and dry borders at 10-12 inch (25-30 cm) spacing. Suited to xeric and native plantings on slopes with sharp drainage. Grows in containers of at least 1 gallon (4 L) with a gritty, free-draining mix.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 1'4"
Width/Spread8" - 1'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Blue to blue-violetFoliage Description
Dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grown in full sun to light shade and sharply drained gravelly or sandy soil; established plants need little water and tolerate drought. Wet, heavy soils and winter moisture cause crown and root rot. Watering is limited to dry spells in the first season while plants establish. Spent flower stems can be cut back after bloom to limit self-seeding. Plants are short-lived, lasting three to five years, and are renewed from self-sown seedlings or replaced. Root rot in damp ground is the main cause of loss, while other pests are few.Pruning
Cut flowering stems back to the basal foliage after bloom to tidy the clump and reduce self-seeding. The evergreen rosette is left intact through winter. Old or declining clumps are replaced rather than cut hard.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons