Sand Penstemon (Penstemon acuminatus var. acuminatus and P. acuminatus var. latebracteatus)

Sand Penstemon
These lovely blue flowers with violet to red violet tints send up their flower stalks in mid-Spring. P. acuminatus var. acuminatus has leaves amongst the flowers that are wider than they are long with the stem leaves being concave. P. acuminatus var. latebracteatus has convex leaves with the upper ones among the flowers longer than they are wide. You will find both varieties growing in our areas.

Wildflower photos and accompanying descriptive text © Jean H. Zach