The common name of P. humilis is “Lowly Penstemon” – probably to indicate it’s humble stature, perhaps. A single stem would not be particularly impressive, but this species tends to grow in clumps and in large masses, which makes it anything but humble in appearance.

Penstemon humilis grows in the Pacific Northwest and parts of the Great Basin in dry meadows, rocky plains, high elevation, and among sagebrush and scattered timber. It grows to about 15 inches (just under 0.5 m). It’s a very complex species, having several varieties and a lot of geographic variation. It’s a species that deserves some detailed attention…