Penstemon growing in Cascade Mts. east of Salem, OR

I'm not absolutely certain (would be good to see flower close-up to see shape of anthers, whether or not staminode is bearded, etc.) but I'd suggest comparing to Penstemon serrulatus.

http://www.google.ca/search?q=penstemon+serrulatus&hl=en&tbo=d&rls=com.m...

That sounds like a good match.  I'll try to get some close-up photos this Spring.

Whatever the name, that is a pretty plant! You say it is growing in moist conditions? In a sort of woodland?

Lori, I second your ID as Penstemon serrulatus.

Gene, that's a very attractive plant.

It's growing at 4200 feet altitude in full sun on a rocky, east-facing hillside where there is a lot of water until late Summer.  There are no trees.  It's over a foot tall there, but in my garden, it only gets about 8 inches tall.  This is unusual, since plants normally get bigger in the garden than in nature.  Maybe it's because I am growing them a little dry in the garden.  My garden is at 600 feet altitude.  The flowers are a beautiful blue.

Thank you. Does this species always have blue flowers?

This is what they look like today in my garden:

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The plants are getting very big, much bigger than in nature, and the stems are sprawling horizontally, which they do not do in nature.  Also, the flower color seems much more violet this year.  Disregard the white flower petals.  My black locust trees are dropping their spent blossoms all over the garden, by the millions.

Still looking good Gene, handsome flowers, interesting to see the difference from plants growing in the wild and characteristics when under cultivation.  I lost my plants last year, got crowded out by neighboring shrubs.

So does everybody agree that it's Penstemon serrulatus?