Penstemon virens

Penstemon virens has flowering stems are typically 10–40 cm in height and stand upright with very little curve. The stems are covered in extremely fine and short hairs that increase to being glandular and hairy closer to the buds and flowers, but are rarely almost or completely hairless. Most of the leaves are at the base of the plant and relatively short, 2–10.2 cm long. ==Taxonomy==

The first recorded collection of Penstemon virens was by Francis W. Pennell on 9 June 1915 on Ute Creek north of Manitou Springs, CO. On the same trip he collected at least two more specimens from Colorado and two from locations in Wyoming, with the type specimen collected 13 June on a hillside west of Morrison, CO. The famous Swedish-American botanist Per Axel Rydberg published a description that credited Pennell for the description in his book Flora of the Rocky Mountains and Adjacent Plains in 1917. However, Rydberg is now credited with making formal description. Names The name of the species, "virens", is the present active participle of the Latin word ("I am green"). Three of its common names relate to its appearance. A variation on its scientific name is the name "green beardtounge", a description of the particularly green and shiny leaves of the species. The common name, "blue mist penstemon", may either refer to the cloud of flowers on multiple stems facing every direction or the occasionally spectacular displays of hillsides covered with a low blue mist of flowers. They are additionally called the "low penstemon" for their relatively short stature, but this name is shared with Penstemon humilis, a similar species from elsewhere in the western US. Another of the common names relates to its native habitat, in and near the Front Range of Colorado and southern Wyoming. ==Habitat and distribution==

Penstemon virens is commonly found growing on rocky slopes, on rock outcrops, in forest openings, along road cuts, and other disturbed areas. Penstemon virens is common in its habitat, but not widely distributed. Plants are found on the Medicine Bow Range in southeastern Wyoming south to Culebra Range in southeastern Colorado. It is common in the mountains and foothills of the Front Range in between and also on the Palmer Divide in Colorado. NatureServe assessed P. virens as globally vulnerable (G3) in 1993. At the state level they did not assess populations in Colorado and evaluated Wyoming populations as "imperiled" (S2). ==Ecology==

Penstemon virens tend to grow together in large numbers rather than singly or scattered throughout the landscape, rarely fewer than 10 plants in a population. A study of plant responses to wildfire found that Penstemon virens was found in similar number of areas before and after five years of recovery from fires. Though it does recover from fires an earlier study found that P. virens is significantly associated with areas of historic low-intensity fires in ponderosa pine forests. Penstemon virens was evaluated as a potential host for Castilleja integra and was found by the researchers to not support this partially parasitic plant for more than a few weeks. ==Cultivation==

Blue mist penstemons are recommended as garden plants by local governments, water providers, and extension services for areas in or near the Front Range. They are prized for their low water usage, adaptation to local climate, handsome blooms, long lifespan, and ease of cultivation. They are drought tolerant once established, but not adapted to constantly dry conditions. They are quite adaptable to different garden soil conditions, but like all penstemons are healthier with good drainage. The coldest USDA hardiness zones where this plant is known to survive is zone 4. ==See also==