About Penstemon procerus Douglas ex Graham
Penstemon procerus, commonly called littleflower penstemon, shows a wide range of mature heights. Most plants grow between 3 and 40 centimeters (1–16 inches) tall, and occasionally individuals can reach 70 cm (28 inches) tall. Its stems may be hairless, or more or less covered in stiff, backward-pointing hairs, and stems are never glaucous. Flowering stems either grow straight upward, or lean outward from the plant's base before growing upward, and occasionally they may trail along the ground. Non-flowering stems are often numerous enough to form a mat at the base of the plant. Plants produce both basal leaves that grow directly from the plant base, and leaves attached to stems, though basal leaves are not well developed in some individuals. Leaves have a somewhat leathery texture, and may bear rough backward-pointing hairs, simple hairs, or no hairs at all. Basal leaves and the lowest leaves on stems measure 0.9 to 9 cm long, and only occasionally grow as long as 11.5 cm. In United Kingdom cultivation, the cultivar 'Roy Davidson' has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. This cultivar tolerates a variety of growing conditions, but requires well-drained growing medium and full or partial sun.
