Penstemon laetus, commonly known as Mountain Blue Penstemon or Gay Penstemon, is a perennial herb native to the montane and subalpine zones of the Klamath Mountains, Sierra Nevada, and Transverse Ranges in Oregon and California. It thrives in a variety of habitats including open woodlands, forest clearings, and chaparral, often on rocky slopes and well-drained soils. This species typically reaches up to 30 inches in height and features linear to lance-shaped leaves that can grow up to 4 inches long. From late spring to early summer, it produces showy clusters of blue or purple flowers, each up to 1 inch long, with wide-mouthed, tubular corollas that are glandular on the outside and mostly hairless on the inside.

Mountain Blue Penstemon is valued for its vibrant flowers and ability to attract pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds. It is often used in native plant gardens, rock gardens, and as a border plant. For successful cultivation, it requires well-drained soil, moderate watering, and full sun to partial shade. While generally low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to root rot if overwatered or planted in poorly draining soils. There are no major disease issues, but slugs and snails may occasionally feed on the foliage. This penstemon is not known for aggressive roots or invasiveness.CC BY-SA 4.0