Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Penstemon grandiflorus Nutt.

Stout, glaucous herbaceous plant with broad leaves and up to 5-flowered cymes of large, showy, lavendar-purple flowers.  To 90cm.  [RHSD, Hortus].

Horticultural & Botanical History

Introduced to Britain in 1811.  [JD].  ‘Penstemon bradburii Pursh, FI. Amer. Sept. 738. 1814. “P. grandiflorum Fraser, Catal. 1813.”  Description, but no habitat given.  Probable isotype seen in herbarium of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.  Plains, at altitudes of 900 to 1,200 meters; Upper Sonoran and Subboreal zones; flowering from late May to late June. High plains, within the Missouri drainage, occurring probably rarely through eastern Wyoming and eastern Colorado.’  [Contributions from the United States National Herbarium vol.20, p.357].

History at Camden Park

Requested from J. Abbott of Hobart on 16th June 1846, the only record I have found.  [MP A2933-2, p.159].

Notes

Published Sep 24, 2009 - 02:13 PM | Last updated Feb 18, 2010 - 05:21 PM

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Family Scrophulariaceae
Category
Region of origin

Central North America
Synonyms
  • Penstemon bradburii Pursh
  • Chelone bradburii Steud.
  • Chelone grandiflora Spreng. 
Common Name

Beardtongue
Name in the Camden Park Record

Penstemon Bradburrii 
Confidence level high