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Penstemon monoensis

Mono Beardtongue · Mono Penstemon

Family PlantaginaceaeGenus Penstemon

A clump of gray-green leaves on a rocky slope, throwing up stems crowded with magenta-pink tubular flowers.
The whole plantJim Morefield from Nevada, USACC BY-SA 2.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
Magenta-pinkRead from the photograph on this page
Native range
CaliforniaGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Read from the photograph on this page — Deno's Garden; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Two sources report 6 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 11, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 84 days.

100% germination in 56–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Penstemon p. 52Public domain
Show the original text
Penstemon (Scrophulariaceae). Some of the following data are updates on species reported in the 1st Suppl. As noted in the 2nd Ed. and 1st Suppl., 'there is a wide range of germination behaviors in this genus ranging from requirements for light, oscillating temperatures, low temperatures, and GA-3. P. monoensis germ. 70Lr40(5/5 in 8-12 w) and 40(2/9 in 6th w). The sample in 70D all rotted, but the sample was not large enough to be certain that light was the significant factor. Seeds DS 1 y germ. 40(7/9 in 4-12 w)-70D-40(1/9) and 70D-40(5/9 in 6-11 w)-70D-40-70D(1/9 on 2nd d). Seeds DS 2 y germ." 40(5/7 in 4-8 w) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Penstemon p. 52. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 12, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on January 11, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    1/9 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 12 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 84 days.

78% germination in 28–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Penstemon p. 52Public domain
Show the original text
Penstemon (Scrophulariaceae). Some of the following data are updates on species reported in the 1st Suppl. As noted in the 2nd Ed. and 1st Suppl., 'there is a wide range of germination behaviors in this genus ranging from requirements for light, oscillating temperatures, low temperatures, and GA-3. P. monoensis germ. 70Lr40(5/5 in 8-12 w) and 40(2/9 in 6th w). The sample in 70D all rotted, but the sample was not large enough to be certain that light was the significant factor. Seeds DS 1 y germ. 40(7/9 in 4-12 w)-70D-40(1/9) and 70D-40(5/9 in 6-11 w)-70D-40-70D(1/9 on 2nd d). Seeds DS 2 y germ." 40(5/7 in 4-8 w) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Penstemon p. 52. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 9, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on February 8, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 730 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 2 years from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 56 days.

71% germination in 28–56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Penstemon p. 52Public domain
Show the original text
Penstemon (Scrophulariaceae). Some of the following data are updates on species reported in the 1st Suppl. As noted in the 2nd Ed. and 1st Suppl., 'there is a wide range of germination behaviors in this genus ranging from requirements for light, oscillating temperatures, low temperatures, and GA-3. P. monoensis germ. 70Lr40(5/5 in 8-12 w) and 40(2/9 in 6th w). The sample in 70D all rotted, but the sample was not large enough to be certain that light was the significant factor. Seeds DS 1 y germ. 40(7/9 in 4-12 w)-70D-40(1/9) and 70D-40(5/9 in 6-11 w)-70D-40-70D(1/9 on 2nd d). Seeds DS 2 y germ." 40(5/7 in 4-8 w) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Penstemon p. 52. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 21, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 20, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    1/9 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 3 run on after germination.

about 15 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 77 days.

56% germination in 42–77 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Penstemon p. 52Public domain
Show the original text
Penstemon (Scrophulariaceae). Some of the following data are updates on species reported in the 1st Suppl. As noted in the 2nd Ed. and 1st Suppl., 'there is a wide range of germination behaviors in this genus ranging from requirements for light, oscillating temperatures, low temperatures, and GA-3. P. monoensis germ. 70Lr40(5/5 in 8-12 w) and 40(2/9 in 6th w). The sample in 70D all rotted, but the sample was not large enough to be certain that light was the significant factor. Seeds DS 1 y germ. 40(7/9 in 4-12 w)-70D-40(1/9) and 70D-40(5/9 in 6-11 w)-70D-40-70D(1/9 on 2nd d). Seeds DS 2 y germ." 40(5/7 in 4-8 w) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Penstemon p. 52. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 42 days.

22% germination in 42 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Penstemon p. 52Public domain
Show the original text
Penstemon (Scrophulariaceae). Some of the following data are updates on species reported in the 1st Suppl. As noted in the 2nd Ed. and 1st Suppl., 'there is a wide range of germination behaviors in this genus ranging from requirements for light, oscillating temperatures, low temperatures, and GA-3. P. monoensis germ. 70Lr40(5/5 in 8-12 w) and 40(2/9 in 6th w). The sample in 70D all rotted, but the sample was not large enough to be certain that light was the significant factor. Seeds DS 1 y germ. 40(7/9 in 4-12 w)-70D-40(1/9) and 70D-40(5/9 in 6-11 w)-70D-40-70D(1/9 on 2nd d). Seeds DS 2 y germ." 40(5/7 in 4-8 w) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Penstemon p. 52. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 6

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Penstemon p. 64Public domain
Show the original text
Penstemon (Scrophulariaceae). P. monoensis germ. 40(2/9 in 6th w) and none in 70D, 70L, and OS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Penstemon p. 64. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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