Palmer’s penstemon is native to the American southwest. It is found along roadsides, in
canyons and washes, in creosote scrub and in juniper woodlands, at elevations between
3609-7546′ (1.1-2.3 km).
Plants: 1½-6½′ (50-200 cm) in height. Though
most penstemons lack a detectable odor, this one has fragrance.
Leaves: Usually opposite, toothed.
Leaves are sparse on the stem, and fused to it.
Flowers: On spikes (panicles atop the
plant. Each flower is tubular, with five lobes, two above, three below. There is a central yellowish
staminode that looks like a diminutive bottle brush. Flowers are white,
pink, or rarely red, with red stripes. The flowers usually point in the same direction.
They appear from May to June, or in some areas, as long as March to September.
Fruits: Not mentioned even in the Jepson Herbarium
Flora, so apparently inconspicuous.