[Beardtongues and Penstemons; The Genus Penstemon in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Glaucous Beardtongue, Glaucous Penstemon

Penstemon euglaucus

Glaucous penstemon as seen at left near the summit of Lookout Mountain, Badger Creek Wilderness.........July 17, 2016. The photo at right shows late-blooming glaucous penstemon along the Park Meadows Trail #4075 near Squaw Creek, Three Sisters Wilderness......August 22, 2021.

The photo at right shows glaucous penstemon either at High Rock, or along forest road #44. Both locations are on the Mt. Hood National Forest.

Characteristics:

Glaucous penstemon is very similar in appearance to Rydberg's penstemon, except its foliage is much bluer, and the leaves and stems are very smooth, neither being hairy nor glandular. It is an upright species of penstemon, with one to several slender stems rising from 15 cm to 60 cm.

The leaves as mentioned above are all smooth, lacking both short hairs and glands. They are glaucous (hence the name) as a result of the bluish tinge to the foliage. The abundant basal leaves are elliptical and taper to slender petiole. (see photo below right) The stem leaves are oblanceolate and samll near the base. Higher on the stem they become linear to elliptical in shape. Lower stem leaves are petioled, while those up higher may be sessile. The stem leaves are opposite and widely spaced between nodes.

The sepals are oval and taper to a sharp point. The corollas are dark blue to lavender, with some white in the throat of the flower. The corolla is about 11-15 mm long. The tube tapers slightly and the flower is definitely two-lipped.

Habitat:

Glaucous penstemon inhabits open to sparsely wooded forests, often in dry, sandy soils, from mid elevation to high elevation in the Cascade Mountains.

Range:

Glaucous penstemon is found in the Cascade Mountains from southern Washington to central Oregon.

Glaucous penstemon as seen near the summit of Lookout Mountain, Badger Creek Wilderness.........July 17, 2016.

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The photos at left and center show glaucous penstemon (with nectaring west coast ladies) as seen near the summit of Lookout Mountain, Badger Creek Wilderness.........July 16, 2017. The photo at right shows the flowers of glaucous penstemon as seen near the summit of Lookout Mountain, Badger Creek Wilderness.........July 3, 2024.

The image at left shows the maturing (reddish-colored in this case) fruits of glaucous penstemon near the summit of Lookout Mountain, Badger Creek Wilderness.....August 18, 2024.

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Glaucuous pentsemon either at High Rock, or along forest road #44. Both locations are on the Mt. Hood National Forest.

Paul Slichter