Palmer's Penstemon
Palmer's Penstemon
Penstemon palmeri
Plant type:
Forb
Lifecycle:
Perennial
Growing season:
NA
Cover:
Low
Seedling rate:
1.2-2
Soil
Acceptable soil conditions:
Loam,
Sand,
Gravel
Soil Conditions:
Acidic
Alkaline
Location
Min elevation:
1000
Max elevation:
7000
Counties:
Churchill,
Clark,
Elko,
Eureka,
Humboldt,
Lander,
Lincoln,
Nye,
Pershing,
White Pine
Reproduction & Growth
Growth rate:
High
Germination overall:
Low
Germination rate:
Slow
Reproduction:
High
Establishment:
Moderate
Lifespan:
Short
Survival:
NA
Ecological
Best suited for these site conditions:
Cold
Disturbance
Flooding
Best suited for these management goals:
Drought resilience
Erosion control
Forage production
Pollinator habitat
Weed management
Wildlife habitat
Additional Information
Warning:
Commercial availability:
Available
Notes:
Exhibits a wide range of variation in dormancy and germination patterns within populations, and even within seeds produced from a single individual exposed to different light and temperature conditions. Germination is seasonally bimodal, with
seeds germinating in both fall and spring in response to varying temperature and light cues. Cyclic dormancy patterns permit year-to-year persistence in the seed bank and seeds can bank for at least two springs prior to germination. Seeds require a relatively long period of favorable moisture to germinate.
seeds germinating in both fall and spring in response to varying temperature and light cues. Cyclic dormancy patterns permit year-to-year persistence in the seed bank and seeds can bank for at least two springs prior to germination. Seeds require a relatively long period of favorable moisture to germinate.
Citations:
Hensen and Wolf 2023, USDA 2025.