Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Penstemon procerus is a species of penstemon known by the common name littleflower penstemon. It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to Colorado, as far east in Canada as Manitoba, where it grows in mountain habitat such as meadows, often in alpine climates. It is a perennial herb forming mats of herbage with some erect stems reaching about 40 centimeters in maximum height. There are several varieties which vary in morphology, some more decumbent than others, several which are known commonly as pincushion penstemons for their matted forms. In general, the leaves are lance-shaped to oval, plentiful around the base of the plant with smaller ones arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. The flower cluster is made up of one or more clusters of tubular flowers with lipped, lobed mouths. Each flower is no more than one centimeter in length and is purple to blue in color, often with a white throat. The outside of the flower is generally hairless, while the inside may be lined with white or yellowish hairs.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

2 - 16 in Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Purple

Flowering season

Summer

Special uses

Containers, Deer resistant

Sun

Partial Shade

Water

Low

Soil drainage

Medium

Soil description

Succeeds in ordinary rich garden soils so long as they are well-drained.
Soil PH: 5 - 5.8

Site type

meadows

Plant communities

Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Subalpine Forest, Wetland-Riparian

Hummingbirds
Bees
Butterflies

Pollinators supported

1 confirmed and 82 likely

  • Likely

  • Confirmed

Nevada Bumble Bee

Bombus nevadensis

Milbert's Tortoiseshell

Aglais milberti

California Digger Bee

Anthophora californica

Red-tipped Digger Bee

Anthophora terminalis