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Project Noah Nature School
Penstemon grandiflorus
The native Large-Flowered Penstemon occurs in only a few northern or NW counties in Illinois, where it is rare and state-listed as 'endangered.' This plant is more common in states that are located to the west of the Mississippi River. Habitats include dry sand prairies, dolomite prairies, and gravelly hill prairies. Because of the showy flowers, Large-Flowered Penstemon is more often found in flower gardens, from where it rarely escapes. Fire is supposed to be harmful to the ecological success of this plant because its growing buds remain above ground. In its natural habitat, significant wildfires rarely occur because of the sparse vegetative cover.
Purple wildflowers growing between a road and a lake in very dry, sandy soil
Spotted on Jun 13, 2011
Submitted on Apr 15, 2012
