Barrett's Penstemon

Penstemon barrettiae

Plantaginaceae

• Rare Pacific Northwest Endemic
• Columbia River Gorge Native
• USDA Zone 5-8
• Full Sun to Shade
• Size: 1’ x 3’
  
• Drought Tolerant: Yes
  
• Evergreen: yes
• Flower Color: Rose purple/lilac (April - June)
• Provides food for hummingbirds

Showy, shrubby evergreen perennial with thick, leathery blue-green leaves and long tubular rose-purple to lilac flowers. Forms dense clumps with stems 8 to 16 inches tall that spread along the ground forming a loose mat. Discovered by Almeta Hodge Barrett prior to 1886, this special native is found only in the Columbia River Gorge and upper Klickitat River canyon.

Leaves are wide, succulent-like, and coated with a distinctive blue waxy powder, creating a striking glaucous appearance. Oppositely arranged leaves are stiff and leathery with smooth or slightly serrated edges, reaching up to 3.5 centimeters long with clasping bases. Showy flowers are 1 to 1.5 inches long, tubular in shape with a lipped mouth, blooming April through June. The entire plant is hairless with a glossy, waxy texture.

Highly attractive to hummingbirds who visit the nectar-rich tubular flowers. This remarkable penstemon is adapted to cliff habitats and steep rock faces, making it an excellent choice for rock gardens and rocky outcrops. Despite its limited wild range, it has proven to be a reliable and widely cultivated garden plant, tolerant of various conditions once established.

This plant is ideal for dry, sunny rock gardens, cliff gardens, alpine gardens, and as a border plant in well-drained areas. Grows naturally on cliffs and rock outcrops where soil is thin, often anchoring in rock cracks and crevices in talus. Perfect for gardeners seeking an uncommon, showy native with distinctive waxy blue-green foliage and vibrant spring flowers. Excellent choice for water-wise landscapes and native plant collections featuring Pacific Northwest endemics.