Carried by 3 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Penstemon laetus is a species of penstemon in the Plantaginaceae (Plantain) family known by the common names Gay Penstemon and Mountain Blue Penstemon. It is native to the inland mountains of Oregon and California, where its distribution extends from the Klamath Mountains through the Sierra Nevada to the Transverse Ranges. It is found at elevations from 750 ft. to over 8,000 ft. where grows in forest, scrub, and other mountain habitats. It is a perennial herb growing erect to about 75 centimeters tall, its base becoming woody. The leaves are linear to lance-shaped and up to 10 centimeters long. The hairy flower cluster bears blue or purple flowers up to 3.5 centimeters long. The wide-mouthed tubular or funnel-shaped flower is hairy on the outer surface and mostly hairless on the inside. There are two recognized varieties in California, all commonly known as Mountain Blue Penstemon.
Perennial herb
2 ft Tall
2 ft Wide
Upright
Fast, Moderate
Slight
Blue, Lavender, Purple, White
Spring
Containers, Deer resistant
Full Sun, Partial Shade
Max 1x / month once established
Moderate
Tolerates cold to -10° F
Fast, Medium
Prefers sandy or loamy soils. Does not grow well in clay soils.
Soil PH: 6.0 - 8.0
For propagating by seed: No treatment; 2-3 mos. stratification may improve germination.
Spring-moist places
Chaparral, Foothill Woodland, Red Fir Forest, Yellow Pine Forest
Use with mountain species such as Bush Chinquapin (Chrysolepis sempervirens), Dogwood (Cornus spp.), Bitter Cherry (Prunus emarginata), Western Labrador Team (Rhododendron columbianum), and Creeping Snowberry (Symphoricarpos mollis)
Butterflies and moths supported
0 confirmed and 16 likely
Geranium Plume Moth
Amblyptilia pica
Anicia Checkerspot
Euphydryas anicia
Variable Checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona