YardMate
English
Download
Davidson's Penstemon (Penstemon davidsonii), whole plant
  • Davidson's Penstemon — close-up of leaves and flowers
  • Davidson's Penstemon — seasonal appearance
  • Davidson's Penstemon in a garden setting

Davidson's Penstemon

Penstemon davidsonii

Hard · Experienced growers

About Davidson's Penstemon

Davidson's Penstemon is a low mat-forming evergreen alpine native to the high mountains of the Pacific Northwest and Sierra Nevada. Growing only 2 to 6 inches tall and spreading to form dense cushions, it bears disproportionately large violet-purple tubular flowers in early to midsummer. A signature wildflower of subalpine and alpine habitats from the Cascades to the Sierras, it is highly prized for rock gardens and specialty alpine collections.

  • Drought-tolerant
  • Evergreen
  • Native
  • Pollinator-friendly
WATER
Regular
Top inch dry
LIGHT
Full sun
6+ hrs direct
HARDY
Hardy to -30°F (-34°C)
USDA hardiness zones 4–8

How to care for Davidson's Penstemon

Watering

  • Springevery 7 days
  • Summerevery 10 days
  • Fallevery 14 days
  • Winterevery 21 days

Soil · Well-draining

  • Top dressingPine bark mulch10%
  • Main mixPotting soil + perlite 2:170%
  • DrainageLECA / gravel20%

Never skip the drainage layer — standing water is the top cause of root rot.

FERTILIZER

  • Springevery 60 days
Get watering reminders for Davidson's Penstemon — free on iPhoneDownload on the App Store

At a Glance

  • NativeNorth America
  • Height0.5–1 ft (0.2–0.3 m)
  • Spread1–2 ft (0.3–0.6 m)
  • Flower colorPurple
  • Foliage colorGreen
  • SoilSandy, Well-drained
  • LocationsYard · Balcony

Bloom time

BLOOM CYCLE

Peak bloom

Jun–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Large violet-purple tubular flowers June to August

Toxicity

Toxicity unknown

None reported

Unknown

EXPOSURE Unspecified plant material.

EFFECT Toxic effects are not specified.

NOTE Toxicity for humans is not well documented; use caution until verified.

Unknown

EXPOSURE Unspecified plant material.

EFFECT Toxic effects are not specified.

NOTE Toxicity for dogs is not well documented; use caution until verified.

Unknown

EXPOSURE Unspecified plant material.

EFFECT Toxic effects are not specified.

NOTE Toxicity for cats is not well documented; use caution until verified.

Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

DISTRIBUTION

Davidson's Penstemon · Native
  • Native
  • North America

History

Illustrated historical scene for Davidson's Penstemon

Penstemon davidsonii, Davidson's penstemon or creeping penstemon, is a mat-forming evergreen subshrub native to rocky alpine and subalpine habitats of western North America from British Columbia through the Cascades and Sierra Nevada to California and east into Idaho and Nevada. English botanist John Goodridge Greene described the species in 1893, honoring George Davidson, a Scottish-American geographer and botanist of the US Coast Survey. The plant forms tight evergreen mats of small rounded leaves and in summer bears relatively large tubular purple to violet flowers that attract bumblebees at high elevations.

Multiple varieties including var. davidsonii, var. menziesii, and var. praeteritus span the species' range. It is a staple of alpine plant collections and rock gardens in cool-summer climates worldwide.

Named for George Davidson, a 19th-century geographer and naturalist who explored the Pacific coast for the United States Coast Survey. A signature alpine wildflower of Mount Rainier, Mount Hood, and other high Cascade peaks.

Symbolism & meaning

What It Symbolizes

Davidson's Penstemon expresses alpine fortitude, thriving in the harshest mountain conditions where ice, wind, and thin soil dominate. An icon of subalpine wildflower meadows in the western ranges, its purple-blue flowers blaze briefly across rocky slopes each summer. To grow this penstemon is to honor high places — a tough little native that proves the most demanding habitats can also produce some of the most luminous flowers.

  • Alpine fortitude — thrives in harshest mountain conditions
  • High places — icon of subalpine wildflower meadows

Where the Name Comes From

'Penstemon' from Greek for five stamens; 'davidsonii' honors George Davidson (1825–1911).

Uses & Fun Facts

  • Low violet trumpets serve mountain bees and small hummingbirds
  • Davidson's Penstemon spreads as low groundcover on banks and slopes

Related plants

More Penstemon plants

Plants with similar care

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Davidson's Penstemon?

In summer, water about every 10 days; in winter, about every 21 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.

How much light does Davidson's Penstemon need?

Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.

Is Davidson's Penstemon toxic to cats or dogs?

Pets Unknown (Dogs Unknown · Cats Unknown) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

Is Davidson's Penstemon easy to grow?

It is considered challenging and rewards experienced growers.

When does Davidson's Penstemon bloom?

It typically blooms Jun–Aug in the Northern Hemisphere.

YardMate

Identify any plant in seconds

Snap a photo — YardMate names the plant, diagnoses problems, and reminds you when to water.

Download on the App Store
YardMateIdentify · Diagnose · Remind
Download