# Davidson's Penstemon (*penstemon davidsonii*)

Davidson's Penstemon is a colorful flower that blooms in the spring. Its vibrant purple and pink colors attract many buzzing bees and fluttering butterflies!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Rocky slopes and meadows in the mountains.
- **Also known as:** Davidson's Beardtongue

![Davidson's Penstemon](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Menzie's_Penstemon_%2816833834188%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Mount Rainier National Park from Ashford, WA, United States, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Menzie's_Penstemon_%2816833834188%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The Davidson'S Penstemon is a low-growing mat-forming plant, showcasing vivid purple to pink tubular flowers that create a bright splash of color against rocky alpine landscapes. Its small, slightly hairy leaves often form a dense, cushion-like mound.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Lamiales
- **Family:** Plantaginaceae
- **Genus:** Penstemon

## Interesting facts

- Hummingbirds love to sip nectar from its vibrant purple tubes.
- It can grow right out of tiny cracks in seemingly solid rock!
- Its tiny seeds are tough enough to survive freezing mountain winters.
- Some people call it 'rock penstemon' because it lives on cliffs!

## Special abilities

- **Rock Gripper:** Davidson'S Penstemon can root into tiny rock crevices, helping it anchor firmly in challenging mountain environments.
- **Altitude Ace:** Davidson'S Penstemon thrives in cold, high-altitude regions, making it a master of mountain survival.
- **Sun Shield:** Davidson'S Penstemon has hairy leaves that protect it from intense sunlight and strong mountain winds.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-30 cm
- **Spread:** 15-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to late summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Two-form Bumblebee (*Bombus bifarius*) — Main pollinator, collects nectar.
- **Pollinates:** [Rufous Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rufous-hummingbird) (*Selasphorus rufus*) — Visits flowers for nectar.
- **Eaten by:** [Yellow-bellied Marmot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-bellied-marmot) (*Marmota flaviventris*) — Occasionally browses leaves and flowers.

## Traits

- [Herbaceous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbaceous): Herbaceous plants are non-woody plants with soft stems that typically die back to the ground at the end of the growing season.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Davidson's Penstemon?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Davidson's Penstemon?

5-30 cm

### How wide does Davidson's Penstemon spread?

15-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Davidson's Penstemon?

2-4 cm

### When does Davidson's Penstemon bloom?

Late spring to late summer

### Is Davidson's Penstemon edible?

No

### Is Davidson's Penstemon toxic?

None

### What is Davidson's Penstemon's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Cushman Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cushman-dam) — Washington, US · Historic Site
- [Cypress Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cypress-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Davidson's Penstemon: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/davidsons-penstemon)