Bluemist Penstemon is one
of the more common Penstemon sp. of the foothills and mountains, often growing
among rocks or on gravelly slopes. Leaves are bright green and glabrous (hairless).
The blue flowers have hairs, usually glandular, on the outside of the petals.
The staminode, or sterile stamen, has golden hairs toward the tip. Flowers grow
from all sides of the stem, in contrast to species such as Penstemon
glaber which has a one-sided inflorescence. Plants grow to about
1-foot tall. Growth forms seem to vary somewhat with elevation. Foothills plants
often have a less dense inflorescence and smaller flowers.
