''Penstemon attenuatus'' is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common names sulphur penstemon and taperleaf beardtongue. It is native to the northwestern United States.''Penstemon attenuatus''.
USDA NRCS Plant Guide.''Penstemon attenuatus''.
NatureServe. This species is a

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

growing up to 90 centimeters. The dark green, oppositely arranged leaves generally have smooth edges, except for var. ''attenuatus'', which may have slightly toothed edges on its leaves. The basal leaves are up to 17 centimeters long and have petioles. Leaves higher on the stem are smaller and may clasp the stem at their bases. The tubular flowers vary in color from blue and purple to pink, yellow, or white. Each is up to 2 centimeters long. The flowers are attractive to many insects, such as bees. This species may be very similar to other ''Penstemon'', and difficult to distinguish.''Penstemon attenuatus''.
USDA NRCS Plant Fact Sheet. There are four

ecotype In evolutionary ecology, an ecotype,Greek: ''οίκος'' = home and ''τύπος'' = type, coined by Göte Turesson in 1922 sometimes called ecospecies, describes a genetically distinct geographic variety, population, or race within a species, ...

s or

varieties Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

. The var. ''militaris'', the South Idaho penstemon, is found in

Idaho Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyom ...

and

Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbi ...

. The var. ''pseudoprocerus'', native to Idaho, Montana, and

Wyoming Wyoming () is a U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the south ...

, is called small penstemon. This species grows in dry meadows and moist woods. It can be found up to 3000 meters in

elevation The elevation of a geographic location is its height above or below a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface (see Geodetic datum § Vert ...

in areas receiving 30 to 64 centimeters (12 to 25 inches) of precipitation per year. This plant may be used in

landscaping Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including the following: # Living elements, such as flora or fauna; or what is commonly called gardening, the art and craft of growing plants with a goal o ...

and added to seed mixes used in the

revegetation Revegetation is the process of replanting and rebuilding the soil of disturbed land. This may be a natural process produced by plant colonization and succession, manmade rewilding projects, accelerated process designed to repair damage to a land ...

of rangeland.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q7164831 attenuatus Flora of the United States