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Plant Profile

Graham's Beardtongue (Penstemon grahamii)

Penstemon grahamii-Flowering Photo Credit: Amber Swanson

Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Plantaginaceae
State: CO, UT
Nature Serve ID: 151543
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/08/1989

Description:

Grahams beardtongue (Penstemon grahamii) is a herbaceous perennial. When in flower plants are easily sited. The colors of the flowers are brilliant lavender to pink and the tubular flower is long compared to other penstemon species. The flowers (3-20) are usually tightly arranged around the raceme pointing upward. There are 1 to 3 stems extending from the taproot, the stems are 7-18 cm long. Recently this Uintah Basin plant has become an interest and focus of research. The extent of the population is being reviewed and will be determined with the efforts of surveys conducted in the field.

Where is Graham's Beardtongue (Penstemon grahamii) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Penstemon grahamii occur on barren knolls of white calcareous shale (Green River Formation). The elevation where plants have been found is (1430-2060 m). Penstemon grahamii ocurrs in piyon-Juniper comunities. Plants favor south facing slopes, however they are also found on north facing slopes. Clusters of plants are found on ledges and drainages.

Distribution:

The plant occurs along of a narrow band in Carbon, Duchesne and Uintah Counties UT (a band ~ 80 mi. long by 5 mi. wide).

States & Provinces:

Graham's Beardtongue can be found in Colorado, Utah

Which CPC Partners conserve Graham's Beardtongue (Penstemon grahamii)?

Denver Botanic Gardens

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 06/09/17

National Laboratory for Genetic Resource Preservation (USDA-ARS)

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 01/08/24

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

Tina Stanley

01/08/2024

Red Butte Garden has sent at least 800 wild-collected seeds of Penstemon grahamii to the USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation for long term storage.

Tina Stanley

01/08/2024

Between 2004 and 2014, Red Butte Garden staff made 21 wild seed collections representing more than 15,800 seeds from 96 individuals of Penstemon grahamii. Over 14,300 of these seeds are held in long term storage at Red Butte Garden. In addition to these seed collections, 18 individuals are held as living specimens at Red Butte Garden.

09/23/2020

Annual monitoring is conducted during the peak flowering season (May-June). Research includes collecting demographic data, pollination study, and survey to determine the extent of the population

09/23/2020

Annual monitoring is conducted during the peak flowering season (May-June). Research includes collecting demographic data, pollination study, and survey to determine the extent of the population.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Infrequent to occasional in generally small, isolated colonies across the southern margin of the Uinta Basin of northeastern Utah (primarily Uintah County but barely extending into Carbon and Duchesne counties) and adjacent Rio Blanco County, Colorado. One site is protected on Bureau of Land Management land in Colorado; no Utah sites are protected. All the known occurrences are on oil-rich substrates and are potentially threatened by energy exploration and development. Many of the occurrences have not been visited in over 20 years.

Wendy Yates

01/01/2010

Threats to the plant include loss of habitat due to oil and gas exploration, drilling and field development; and tar sand and oil shale mining. Off-road vehicle use, overuse by domestic and wild grazers, and overuse for horticultural use may also affect s

Wendy Yates

01/01/2010

Survey work is currently being conducted; this information will provide the number of Penstemon grahamii left.

Wendy Yates

01/01/2010

Annual monitoring is conducted during the peak flowering season (May-June). Research includes collecting demographic data, pollination study, and survey to determine the extent of the population.

Wendy Yates

01/01/2010

Penstemon grahamii occurs on both private and BLM land. The BLM has managed and funded the research for this species

Wendy Yates

01/01/2010

Monitoring efforts should continue. This information will provide a better understanding of this plant. A seed bank study should be conducted to provide information such as seed bank density and viability.

Wendy Yates

01/01/2010

Propagation of Penstemon grahamii would be a positive approach for the protection and longevity of this plant.