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Home  /  Plants  /  Budburst Species  /  Penstemon ambiguus
Phenology Observation Sheet for Wildflowers and Herbs

COMMON NAME

Sand penstemon

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Penstemon ambiguus

ALSO KNOWN AS

Gilia Penstemon, Gilia beardtongue, Pink plains Penstemon, Pink plains beardtongue, Sand beardtongue

Plant family

Plantain (Plantaginaceae)

Plant group

Wildflowers and Herbs

Sand Penstemon is a mounding perennial shrub growing 1-3' tall and wide. It has many fine, slender stems that become woody near the base.
8 reports
1+
OBSERVERS
8+
OBSERVATIONS
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Identification hints

This plant lacks the obviously two-lipped flowers that are characteristic of Penstemons, but look closely and notice that the lobes of the upper lip flex back and the lower lip extends forward.
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Did you know?

Sand Penstemon attracts many different native bees.
DISTRIBUTION IN TH U.S.
Arizona , Colorado , Kansas , New Mexico , Nevada , Oklahoma , Texas , Utah , Wyoming
HABITAT
Sand Penstemon can be found in sandy or gravelly soil in desert grasslands, scrubland, foothills, and pinyon-juniper woodlands.
ATTRIBUTES
Leaves
Leaves grow opposite one another on the stem and without leaf stalks. They are thin and straight, thread-like, about 1" long.
Flowers
Stems terminate in a loose cluster of white pinkish 1" long tubular flowers. The mostly white petals are subtly two-lipped, the lower lip with three lobes that point outward, the upper lip with two lobes that flex backwards. There are many small hairs at the throat of the pinkish floral tube. There are 5 stamens, one of which is sterile, producing no pollen (staminode).
Fruits
Fruit is a small dry capsule with numerous small dark brown seeds.
Bloom Time
Blooming is most profuse in May, and continues until as late as October depending on moisture.

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