Shrublet of the Plantaginaceae family, native to the Cascade Range and the coastal mountains of the American Northwest, from Washington to Northern California. It naturally grows on cliffs and rocky screes, often on volcanic or granitic substrates, at altitudes that can exceed 2,000 meters.
It is one of the most frankly rupicolous penstemons: the plant creeps and spreads between the stones in a tight mat barely exceeding 10 to 15 cm in height. The woody stems bear small oval-rounded, slightly toothed leaves, of a deep green, evergreen. The flower buds, of a deep purple-red and slightly glandular, precede bright magenta-pink tubular flowers of great chromatic intensity.
In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from June to August depending on the altitude. In cultivation, it generally occurs in May-June.
It requires perfect drainage, a sunny exposure, and poor soil, without stagnant winter moisture. The dry rock garden or stone wall suits it better than an ordinary flower bed.