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| ## Meadow beardtongue {#meadow-beardtongue .Title-Header}             |
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| *Penstemon rydbergii* A. Nels. var. *aggregatus* (Pennell) N.         |
| Holmgren                                                              |
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| Plant Symbol = PERYA                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Idaho State Office & the National Plant Data
Center

### ![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.176388888888889in" height="3.6444444444444444in"}

# Alternate Names

penstemon, Rydberg's beardtongue, meadow penstemon

# Uses

*Grazing/rangeland*: \'Cedar\' Palmer's penstemon (*Penstemon palmeri*)
and \'Bandera\' Rocky Mountain penstemon (*Penstemon strictus*) are the
only released penstemons noted to have any forage value. All other
varieties are considered fair to poor palatability and considered to be
only incidental forage value. All species provide diversity to the
seeded plant community.

*Erosion control/reclamation*: All species are mentioned for their value
in mixes for erosion control and beautification values.

*Wildlife*: Penstemons are considered desirable forages for deer,
antelope, and birds either as herbage or seed. They may also provide
some cover for selected small bird species. They provide diversity to
the plant community.

# Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status
and wetland indicator values.

# Description

*General*: Figwort Family (Scrophulariaceae). Penstemon or beardtongue
species are perennial forbs or sub-shrubs to shrubs with attractive
flowers. They are short to long-lived.

Penstemons have opposite, entire, or toothed leaves. They have several
stalked flowers or flower clusters that are borne in the axils of the
upper leaves or leaflike bracts. The tubular corolla is strongly to
distinctly two-lipped at the mouth with a two-lobed upper lip and a
three-lobed lower lip. There are 4 anther-bearing (fertile) stamens and
a single sterile stamen or staminodia that is often hairy at the tip.
The fruit is a many-seeded capsule.

Meadow penstemon is a perennial herb to woody subshrub, 2 to 4 dm tall
with well-developed basal leaves and stems arising from a woody caudex.
Flowers blue to violet or purple with a densely golden-yellow bearded
staminode. Cronquist et al. (1984) recognizes three varieties and
provides a key.

# Distribution

Meadow penstemon is distributed throughout the western U.S. Penstemons
are common to the western United States. Except for one minor species,
the genus *Penstemon* does not occur naturally outside of North America.
For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Web site.

# Establishment

*Adaptation*: Penstemons do best on well-drained soils. Most ecotypes do
well on infertile, disturbed soils. They have excellent cold winter and
drought tolerance. They will tolerate weakly saline to weakly acidic
sites. They are usually found in open areas, but will tolerate
semi-shaded conditions. They are not tolerant of fire, but are fire
resistant due to leaves staying green with relatively high moisture
content during the fire season.

Meadow penstemon is found on moderately moist to dry slopes, meadows,
and streambanks from 1300 to 3300 m in elevation.

*Planting*: These species should be seeded with a drill or broadcast at
a depth of 1/4 inch or less into a firm seedbed. Ideal seeding depth is
1/8 inch. Penstemons are not recommended for single species seeding. The
full seeding rate (not recommended) for these forbs-shrubs is 1.5 to 3
pounds Pure Live Seed (PLS) per acre or 20 to 26 PLS per square foot
(varies somewhat by species). When used as a component of a mix, adjust
to percent of mix desired. For mined lands and other harsh critical
areas, doubling the seeding rate component of penstemon is not required.

The best seeding results are obtained from seeding in very early spring
(because of grass component of mix) on heavy to medium textured soils
and in late fall on medium to light textured soils. Late summer
(August - mid September) seeding is not recommended. Dormant fall
seedings (preferred seeding period for penstemons) will pre-chill seed
and reduce seed dormancy which is very strong in some species. Mulching,
irrigation and weed control all benefit stand establishment. Seedling
vigor is good, but not as good as most grasses. Germination may not
occur until the second growing season. Flowering should not be expected
until at least the second growing season.

Stands may require weed control measures during establishment. Because
penstemons are broadleaf, use of 2,4-D is not recommended. Mow weeds at
or prior to their bloom stage. Grasshoppers and other insects may also
damage new stands and pesticides may be needed.

# Management

Growth of penstemons begins in early spring and flowers appear in May
through July depending on species. Weed control and removal of very
competitive species may improve chance of establishment. Damage from
wildlife and rodents may occur and they may need to be controlled.
Disease problems are minimal except under irrigation. Under irrigation,
fusarium wilt can be a problem.

*Environmental Concerns*: *Penstemon* species establish and spread
slowly via seed distribution. They are not considered \"weedy\" or
invasive species, but can spread into adjoining vegetative communities
under ideal climatic and environmental conditions. They coexist with
other native species and add biodiversity to those plant communities.

# Seed Production

Penstemons should be seeded in at least 36-inch rows at the rate of 2.5
pounds PLS per acre to allow mechanical weed control. The use of weed
barrier material may be an alternative to allow closer spacing. They
should be seeded in late fall or early winter unless seed is stratified
under cool moist conditions. \"The Clearwater Selection\" of alpine
penstemon does not require stratification. Transplants by dividing the
base of older plants or from greenhouse starts can also be successfully
used to establish seed fields.

Seed is generally harvested by hand stripping or by combine. Seed is
mature when capsules are dry and seed is hard and dark in color.
Flowering is indeterminate with mature capsules and flowers present at
harvest period. Multiple harvest periods (by hand) may be necessary to
maximize seed collection. Some seed will shatter once capsules open, but
the capsule is upright and tends to hold seed very well. Seed can be
separated from the capsule by use of a hammer mill or barley de-bearder
followed by air screening. Cleaned seed should be allowed to dry and
then stored in a cool dry area. An after-ripening period of 3 to 4
months is required. Seed retains viability for several years under these
conditions.

# Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Foundation and registered seed is available for each variety through the
appropriate state Crop Improvement Association or commercial sources to
grow certified seed.

Alpine penstemon (*P. venustus*) is a selected release from seed
originally collected in the Clearwater River drainage, Idaho. \'The
Clearwater Selection\' of alpine penstemon was selected by Aberdeen
Plant Materials Center and was released in 1994. It is a native,
perennial cool-season forb to sub-shrub with a strong taproot and woody
base. The leaves are oblong and sharply serrate. It is 1 to 2 feet tall
and the flowers appear in one or more narrow terminal panicle, 12 to 20
inches long. The flowers are bright lavender to purple or purple-violet.
It flowers from early to mid summer. It is best adapted to full
sunlight, well to moderately well drained soils, 20 to 35 inch rainfall
areas, at 1,000 to 6,000 feet elevation. It is not adapted to poorly
drained soils. Its intended uses are for erosion control, diversity and
beautification. Certified seed is not readily available at this date and
Aberdeen PMC maintains breeder seed.

\'Bandera\' (*P. strictus*) Rocky Mountain penstemon was developed from
seed originally collected in Torrance County, New Mexico. It was
developed by Los Lunas Plant Materials Center and released by New Mexico
AES, New Mexico State Highway Department, Colorado State University and
the PMC in 1973. It is a native, perennial, cool-season forb with a few
large underground stems and many fine roots. The leaves are long and
often curl or are reflexed. It is 8 to 23 inches tall and flowers are
solitary, on one side of the raceme. The flowers are showy blue to
purple and occur primarily between mid May and the end of June. It is
best adapted to medium to sandy to rocky textured, weakly acidic to
alkaline, well-drained soils, 15 to 20 inch rainfall areas, at 6,000 to
10,000 feet elevation. Its intended uses are for erosion control,
diversity and beautification. Certified seed is available and Los Lunas
PMC maintains breeder seed.

\'Cedar\' (*P. palmeri*) Palmer penstemon was developed from seed
originally collected near Cedar City in Iron County, Utah. It was
developed by the U.S. Forest Service Intermountain Forest and Range
Experiment Station, Provo, Utah and released by Los Lunas PMC, Utah
Department of Wildlife, Colorado-Idaho-New Mexico-Utah AES, and Forest
Service in 1985. It is an erect, native, perennial (short-lived, 5-7
years), cool-season, semi-evergreen forb with thick fibrous taproots.
The leaves may remain green throughout the year. The flowers arise from
basal clusters on tall upright stalks and are pink to lavender-pink with
red-violet throats. They bloom for several weeks in late spring through
early summer. It is best adapted to rocky, gravelly to clayey, weakly
acidic to basic, well drained soils, 10 to 16 inch rainfall areas, at
3,500 to 6,000 feet elevation. Its intended uses are winter forage,
erosion control, diversity and beautification. Certified seed is
available and the Forest Service maintains breeder seed.

Firecracker penstemon (*P. eatonii*) is a selected release from seed
originally collected near Richfield, Utah. \'The Richfield Selection\'
of firecracker penstemon was selected by Aberdeen Plant Materials Center
and was released in 1994. It is an erect, native, perennial, cool-season
sub-shrub to shrub with a fibrous root system and decumbent to reclining
stems. The leaves are large and slightly pubescent. The flowers are in
racemes on 24 to 36 inch tall, upright stems. It has bright red tubular
flowers, blooming from early to late summer. It is adapted to full
sunlight, well to moderately well drained soils, 10 to 16 inch rainfall
areas, at 3,300 to 8,000 feet elevation. It does not do well in poorly
drained soils. Its intended uses are for erosion control, diversity, and
beautification. Certified seed is not readily available at this date and
Aberdeen PMC maintains breeder seed.

A number of other penstemons are seeded primarily for soil stabilization
on depleted, disturbed and erosive areas for erosion control and as
ornamentals. These include low penstemon (*Penstemon humilis*), Rydberg
penstemon *(Penstemon rydbergii*), and thickleaf penstemon (*Penstemon
pachyphyllus*). No cultivar releases are known to have have been made.
Please check the PLANTS database for the names of native penstemons in
your state, then check with your area native plant nurseries for their
availability.

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

# References

Cronquist, A., A.H. Holmgren, N.H. Holmgren, J.L. Reveal, & P.K.
Holmgren 1984*. Intermountain flora. Volume Four. Subclass Asteridae
(except Asteraceae)*. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York.

Crosswhite, F.S. 1967. *Revision of Penstemon section Habroanthus
(Scrophulariaceae). I: Conspectus, II: series Speciosi, and III: series
Virgati*. American Midland Naturalist 77:1.41.

Holmgren, N.H. 1971. *A new species of Penstemon from Nye Co., Nevada*.
Aliso 7:351-356.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, 1978a. *An overlooked new species of Penstemon
(Scropulariaceae from the Great Basin*. Brittonia 30:334-339.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, 1978b. *Three new species of Penstemon
(Scrophulariaceae from the Intermountain region*. Brittonia 30:416-425.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, 1979a. *Nomenclatural changes in some Intermountain
penstemons (Scrophulariaceae)*. Brittonia 31:104-107.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, 1979b. *New penstemons (Scrophulariaceae) from the
Intermountain region*. Brittonia 31:217-242.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, 1979c. *Subgeneric and sectional names for
Intermountain Penstemon (Scrophulariaceae)*. Brittonia 31:358-364.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, 1980. *A new Penstemon (Scrophulariaceae) from
northwestern Arizona*. Brittonia 32:326-329.

Keck, D.D. 1932. *Studies in Penstemon. A systematic treatment of the
section Saccanthera*. Univ. Calif. Publication in Botany 16:367-426.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, 1937a. *Studies in Penstemon IV. The section
Ericopsis*. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 64:357-381.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, 1937b. *Studies in Penstemon V. The section
Peltanthera*. American Midland Naturalist 18:790-829.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, 1938. *Studies in Penstemon VI. The section Autator*.
Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 65:233-255.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, 1940. *Studies in Penstemon VII. The subsections
Gairdneriani, Deusti, and Arenarii of the Graciles, and miscellaneous
new species*. American Midland Naturalist 23:594-616.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, 1945. *Studies in Penstemon-VIII. A cyto-taxonomic
account of the section Spermunculus*. American Midland Naturalist
33:128-206.

Pennell, F.W. 1920. *Penstemon*. IN: *Scrophulariaceae of the central
Rocky Mountain states*. Contributions U.S. Natl. Herbarium 20:325.381.

# Prepared By

## *Daniel G. Ogle*

USDA, NRCS, Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho.

# *J. Scott Peterson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

# Species Coordinator

## *Daniel G. Ogle*

USDA, NRCS, Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho.

Edited 05dec00 jsp; 11feb03 ahv; 060803 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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