Cliff beardtongue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cliff beardtongue |
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| Penstemon rupicola in Mount Rainier National Park | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Penstemon
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| Species: |
rupicola
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Penstemon rupicola is a beautiful wild flower. People often call it the cliff beardtongue or rock penstemon. This plant grows naturally on the west coast of the United States. You can find it in rocky, mountainous areas. It grows from Washington down to the Klamath Mountains in northern California.
What is Penstemon rupicola?
This plant is a type of small shrub that grows in clumps. It forms a mat close to the ground. It usually grows no taller than 14 centimeters (about 5.5 inches).
What Does it Look Like?
The leaves of the Penstemon rupicola are thick and waxy. They are round or oval shaped. Each leaf can be up to 2 centimeters (about 0.8 inches) long. They grow in pairs directly across from each other on the stem.
The flowers are very pretty and stand out from the plant's mat. They are shaped like tubes with wide openings. Each flower can be almost 4 centimeters (about 1.5 inches) long. Their colors range from light purple to bright pink.
Its Plant Family
Penstemon rupicola belongs to a group of plants called Penstemon subgenus Dasanthera. This group includes other similar plants. Some of these are P. barrettiae, P. cardwellii, and P. davidsonii.
A Special Award
This plant is so lovely that it has won an award! The Royal Horticultural Society gave it the Award of Garden Merit. This award means it's a great plant for gardens.
