Penstemon cobaea var. cobaea

Plant Information
Species: 
cobaea
Species Authority: 
Nutt.
Variety: 
cobaea
Subgenus: 
Penstemon
Section: 
Cristati
Habit:
 
herbaceous perennial
Habit Woodiness:
 
herb
Lifespan: 
long-lived
Plant Height - Min: 
3.00dm
Plant Height - Max: 
6.00dm
Habitat Description: 
Prairies and rock outcrops throughout the Great Plains.
Distribution Range: 
Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and New Mexico.
Soil Type: 
Well-drained, sandy loam.
Common Name: 
Foxglove Penstemon
Other Notes: 

A showy plant, known in Texas as foxglove, a name properly applied to the Old World Digitalis purpurea.  The species epithet honors Father Bernardo Cobo, a Spanish missionary and naturalist (1572-1659).

This species has been used in producing many of the beautiful garden ornamentals found in European gardens, and makes a lovely garden addition as a native species. It has the largest flower of any species of Penstemon found north of the Mexico border, and the color varies from white to pink or lavender. Variety purpureus can range into the deep purples.  

All photos by Andi Wolfe ©2017 - If you would like to use any of these photos, contact Andi Wolfe at Ohio State University.

First Bloom: 
April
Last Bloom: 
Early August
Chromosome Number: 
2n = 16
References: 

McGregor RL, Barkley TM. 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. Lawrence Kansas: University Press of Kansas.

Lindgren D, Wilde E. 2003. Growin Penstemons: species, cultivars, and hybrids. American Penstemon Society publication.