Plant
Wasatch Beardtongue
Penstemon cyananthusAlso known as Wasatch Penstemon
Wasatch Beardtongue is a western mountain perennial with smooth broad leaves and dense spikes of vivid cobalt-blue to violet tubular flowers. A hairy sterile stamen lies within each two-lipped blossom, where native bees push inside for nectar and pollen.
Montane WildflowerBlue Tubular FlowersNative Bee Plant
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—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPerennial roots draw moisture and minerals from mountain soils, sustaining photosynthesis and repeated seasonal flowering
Predators
- Mule deer
- Voles
- Leaf-feeding caterpillars
ThreatsDevelopment, trail widening, trampling, poorly timed grazing, invasive plants, drought, and climate-driven range shifts
HabitatsSagebrush slopes, aspen and conifer openings, mountain meadows, rocky ridges, canyons, and disturbed soil
Life spanA perennial wildflower that can return from its root crown for many years
Classification
- FamilyPlantaginaceae
- SpeciesPenstemon cyananthus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Leave flower spikes and roots intact, especially in small high-elevation populations beside trails.
Responsible observation
- Color: Look for densely arranged deep blue or violet tubular blooms.
- Throat: View the pale hairy beardtongue inside a flower without pulling it open.
- Protect: Photograph from durable trail surfaces and never pick or transplant plants.
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