In 1992, Forest Ecologist Cindi O'Neil conducted a Species Conservation Strategy for Penstemon peckii. There exists 69 populations of Penstemon peckii with 64 of these populations located in the Sisters Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest. From this conservation study, it was concluded that Penstemon peckii is best adapted to open full sun habitats, low vegetative competition and natural fire (historical fire frequency was 7 to 15 years before intense fire suppression efforts). What they did not know was how long Peck's penstemon seeds remained viable in the soil seed bank. In the summer of 1992, 62,500 seeds were collected from 203 maternal lines which were distributed among 11 separate populations across the range. Approximately 45,000 seeds were placed in ex situ seed bank and 17,500 seeds were bulked from all different populations in order to form one single sample to draw from. A total number of 12,000 seeds were buried in situ soil storage (3 replicates in different places in the range of the species) and 5,500 seeds were placed in frozen ex situ storage at RSBSB as part of this experiment. A series of initial germination trials were performed using different techniques involving both fresh seeds gathered that fall compared to dried and frozen seeds. Later trials compared seeds stored in situ with seeds stored ex situ in intervals of 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and then 4 years, 15 years and now 25 years. The original initial germination trial using 500 seeds (100 seeds in 5 different germination trays) revealed that the dry and frozen seeds did slightly better than the controlled seeds yielding between 55% to 65% germination. Subsequently, a 6 month trial was performed on the previous sample trays to compare whether re-moistened seeds or re-dried seeds yielded better results. Results were inconclusive but it appeared that some seeds required "drying down" in order to germinate. The 25-year Trial is still ongoing but so far approximately 26% of the seeds stored in the soil have germinated. For unknown reason, the seeds stored in the freezer have yielded 51% germination within the 15 to 25 year mark. Conclusions of this study are as follows: (1) Yes, Penstemon peckii is capable of forming a long-lived soil seed bank. (2) Thus, simply getting shaded out by competing vegetation is not necessarily a death sentence for a population. (Guerrant 2018)

In 1992, Forest Ecologist Cindi O'Neil conducted a Species Conservation Strategy for Penstemon peckii. There exists 69 populations of Penstemon peckii with 64 of these populations located in the Sisters Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest. From this conservation study, it was concluded that Penstemon peckii is best adapted to open full sun habitats, low vegetative competition and natural fire (historical fire frequency was 7 to 15 years before intense fire suppression efforts). What they did not know was how long Peck's penstemon seeds remained viable in the soil seed bank. In the summer of 1992, 62,500 seeds were collected from 203 maternal lines which were distributed among 11 separate populations across the range. Approximately 45,000 seeds were placed in ex situ seed bank and 17,500 seeds were bulked from all different populations in order to form one single sample to draw from. A total number of 12,000 seeds were buried in situ soil storage (3 replicates in different places in the range of the species) and 5,500 seeds were placed in frozen ex situ storage at RSBSB as part of this experiment. A series of initial germination trials were performed using different techniques involving both fresh seeds gathered that fall compared to dried and frozen seeds. Later trials compared seeds stored in situ with seeds stored ex situ in intervals of 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and then 4 years, 15 years and now 25 years. The original initial germination trial using 500 seeds (100 seeds in 5 different germination trays) revealed that the dry and frozen seeds did slightly better than the controlled seeds yielding between 55% to 65% germination. Subsequently, a 6 month trial was performed on the previous sample trays to compare whether re-moistened seeds or re-dried seeds yielded better results. Results were inconclusive but it appeared that some seeds required "drying down" in order to germinate. The 25-year Trial is still ongoing but so far approximately 26% of the seeds stored in the soil have germinated. For unknown reason, the seeds stored in the freezer have yielded 51% germination within the 15 to 25 year mark. Conclusions of this study are as follows: (1) Yes, Penstemon peckii is capable of forming a long-lived soil seed bank. (2) Thus, simply getting shaded out by competing vegetation is not necessarily a death sentence for a population. (Guerrant 2018)

In 1992, Forest Ecologist Cindi O'Neil conducted a Species Conservation Strategy for Penstemon peckii. There exists 69 populations of Penstemon peckii with 64 of these populations located in the Sisters Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest. From this conservation study, it was concluded that Penstemon peckii is best adapted to open full sun habitats, low vegetative competition and natural fire (historical fire frequency was 7 to 15 years before intense fire suppression efforts). What they did not know was how long Peck's penstemon seeds remained viable in the soil seed bank. In the summer of 1992, 62,500 seeds were collected from 203 maternal lines which were distributed among 11 separate populations across the range. Approximately 45,000 seeds were placed in ex situ seed bank and 17,500 seeds were bulked from all different populations in order to form one single sample to draw from. A total number of 12,000 seeds were buried in situ soil storage (3 replicates in different places in the range of the species) and 5,500 seeds were placed in frozen ex situ storage at RSBSB as part of this experiment. A series of initial germination trials were performed using different techniques involving both fresh seeds gathered that fall compared to dried and frozen seeds. Later trials compared seeds stored in situ with seeds stored ex situ in intervals of 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and then 4 years, 15 years and now 25 years. The original initial germination trial using 500 seeds (100 seeds in 5 different germination trays) revealed that the dry and frozen seeds did slightly better than the controlled seeds yielding between 55% to 65% germination. Subsequently, a 6 month trial was performed on the previous sample trays to compare whether re-moistened seeds or re-dried seeds yielded better results. Results were inconclusive but it appeared that some seeds required "drying down" in order to germinate. The 25-year Trial is still ongoing but so far approximately 26% of the seeds stored in the soil have germinated. For unknown reason, the seeds stored in the freezer have yielded 51% germination within the 15 to 25 year mark. Conclusions of this study are as follows: (1) Yes, Penstemon peckii is capable of forming a long-lived soil seed bank. (2) Thus, simply getting shaded out by competing vegetation is not necessarily a death sentence for a population. (Guerrant 2018)

Penstemon peckii is currently listed as G3 and Fed SOC.  (Guerrant 2018)

In 1992, Forest Ecologist Cindi O'Neil conducted a Species Conservation Strategy for Penstemon peckii.  There exists 69 populations of Penstemon peckii with 64 of these populations located in the Sisters Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest.  From this conservation study, it was concluded that Penstemon peckii is best adapted to open full sun habitats, low vegetative competition and natural fire (historical fire frequency was 7 to 15 years before intense fire suppression efforts).  What they did not know was how long Peck's penstemon seeds remained viable in the soil seed bank.  In the summer of 1992, 62,500 seeds were collected from 203 maternal lines which were distributed among 11 separate populations across the range.  Approximately 45,000 seeds were placed in ex situ seed bank and 17,500 seeds were bulked from all different populations in order to form one single sample to draw from.  A total number of 12,000 seeds were buried in situ soil storage (3 replicates in different places in the range of the species) and 5,500 seeds were placed in frozen ex situ storage at RSBSB as part of this experiment.  A series of initial germination trials were performed using different techniques involving both fresh seeds gathered that fall compared to dried and frozen seeds.  Later trials compared seeds stored in situ with seeds stored ex situ in intervals of 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and then 4 years, 15 years and now 25 years.  The original initial germination trial using 500 seeds (100 seeds in 5 different germination trays) revealed that the dry and frozen seeds did slightly better than the controlled seeds yielding between 55% to 65% germination.  Subsequently, a 6 month trial was performed on the previous sample trays to compare whether re-moistened seeds or re-dried seeds yielded better results.  Results were inconclusive but it appeared that some seeds required "drying down" in order to germinate.  The 25-year Trial is still ongoing but so far approximately 26% of the seeds stored in the soil have germinated.  For unknown reason, the seeds stored in the freezer have yielded 51% germination within the 15 to 25 year mark.  Conclusions of this study are as follows:  (1) Yes, Penstemon peckii is capable of forming a long-lived soil seed bank.  (2) Thus, simply getting shaded out by competing vegetation is not necessarily a death sentence for a population.  (Guerrant 2018)

The area is heavily used for recreational activities, and has scattered housing and business properties.  Historical natural fire frequency was 7 to 15 years before intense fire suppression efforts. (Guerrant 2018)