''Penstemon cyaneus'' is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common names blue penstemon and dark-blue beardtongue. It is native to the western United States, where it is widespread 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 ...

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 ...

, 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 ...

.''Penstemon cyaneus''.
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 ...

subshrub with a woody base and several erect stems reaching up to 70 centimeters tall. Most of the leaves are near the base of the plant. They are up to 15 centimeters long and have petioles. There are some leaves higher on the stem, which are smaller and clasping at their bases. The flowers are blue, sometimes with a pinkish tinge. They are up to 3.5 centimeters long by 1 centimeter wide at the flaring mouth. They are attractive to bees.''Penstemon cyaneus''.
USDA NRCS Plant Guide. This plant grows on high plains and in

sagebrush Sagebrush is the common name of several woody and herbaceous species of plants in the genus ''Artemisia''. The best known sagebrush is the shrub ''Artemisia tridentata''. Sagebrushes are native to the North American west. Following is an alph ...

. This species may be used in

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 ...

projects in wildlife habitat. It is also appropriate for

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 ...

in dry areas such as roadsides. It may be difficult to use because it is vulnerable to

root rot Root rot is a condition in which anoxic conditions in the soil or potting media around the roots of a plant cause them to rot. This occurs due to excessive standing water around the roots. It is found in both indoor and outdoor plants, although ...

infections.

References

External links

cyaneus Flora of the United States {{Plantaginaceae-stub