Forty for Forty: Fuzzy-Tongued Penstemon

Article in partnership with The Wenatchee World 

Forty for Forty: Fuzzy-Tongued Penstomon

by Susan Ballinger

In mid-July, the Castle Rock trail would seem to be a hot, bleak outdoor destination. The secret for beating the heat in summer is timing: Visit in the cool of morning or the shade of evening. Meanwhile, the brown hillsides of summer seem considerably less bleak if you adopt the curiosity of a detective working to understand the dessicated remnants of the area’s formerly colorful spring wildflowers. Dried seed heads now show the outcomes of dozens of different  native wildflowers. Once the eyes train the brain to pay attention to this version of ‘forensic botany’, you’ll notice many delights that were formerly invisible. 

One such delight now sporting brown stalks with clusters of seeds is extra special. The fuzzy-tongued penstemon (penstemon eriantherus var. whitedii) finds its entire worldwide range within an hour’s drive of Wenatchee and is a state-designated rare plant. In May, show-stopping clusters of this purple flower stand tall above basal rosettes of leaves. The plant grows on steep rocky slopes, like those found at Castle Rock, and is easily spotted within 50 feet of many of our foothills trails. Surprisingly before May 2020, this striking plant had not been reported or mapped in the foothills flanking the city of Wenatchee. 

In the spring of 2020, during the social-distancing period of COVID, I had a surprising botanical experience on the Castle Rock trails. I live nearby and was taking my dog for a short hike on May Day. I was stunned to find multiple small populations of fuzzy-tongued penstemon with several plants growing on the trail edge at a switchback. Apparently this rare wildflower had been hiding in plain sight along trails I had walked for decades.  

During the next two years, over 2000 small populations of these flowers were mapped by the staff of the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust (CDLT) on their protected properties between the Horse Lake Reserve and the Saddle Rock Natural Area. The Land Trust sent this data to the Natural Heritage Program of the Department of Natural Resources where all state rare plant information is catalogued. 

CDLT consulted with Walter Fertig, a state botanist, during this mapping process. He succinctly summarized the social importance of land conservation for rare species when he said, “[Penstemon eriantherus var. whitedii ] is a good ‘educational plant’ for the local area since it is showy and reminds people that rare and unusual species can be found in their community - not just at Yellowstone or Madagascar.”

Go out and look for it. In spring it’s an easy find. Right now in mid-summer, you’ll need to be an astute detective to root it out. 
 

Details: Finding the Fuzzy-Tongued Penstemon 

Castle Rock is bleak in summer, you say? Not true. Not if you go looking for the rare fuzzy-tongued penstemon, which can only be found in our little nook of the world. The hike up and around Castle Rock is varied, scenic, and punctuated by the corpses of penstemon eriantherus var. whitedii.

Access: From the intersection of Western Avenue and Castlerock Avenue in Wenatchee, head west (uphill) on Castlerock Avenue. Follow Castlerock Avenue 0.3 miles as it snakes uphill and park at the road’s end. There is a picnic structure and vault toilet at the trailhead. NOTE: If all the designated parking stalls are occupied when you arrive, drive back down the hill some 50 to 100 yards and street park – don’t clog up the circular turn around by parking beside the ‘No Parking’ signs.

Trip Instructions: From the trailhead, head southwest (uphill) on the main trail. Over the next 0.75  miles, you’ll come to several intersections, As long as you keep heading uphill, it doesn’t matter which trail you follow – all uphill trails eventually lead to the saddle between Castle Rock to the east and Chopper (the much higher and steeper hill) to the west. At the saddle, take the short side trip to the summit of Castle Rock, enjoy the views, and then retrace the trail back to the saddle. Now head downhill in the opposite direction from which you came, thereby following trails that will complete a circle around Castle Rock. On the descent you’ll, again, come to a variety of intersections. Keep following trails that are headed downhill, they all lead to the parking area.

Map: Using the Land Trust’s map of Castle Rock, will improve your experience while hiking these trails and help you decide which spur to follow at the different intersections.
https://www.cdlandtrust.org/sites/default/files/2024-11/Castle%20Rock%20trails%20map%202024.pdf 

Trip Stats: Hiking to the top and around Castle Rock is a roundtrip distance of 2.25 miles to 2.5 miles, depending on  the combination of trails you use. Elevation gain: 750 feet.

Allowed: Hiking, nature walks, birding, trail running, dogs on leash (scoop their poop).

Not Allowed: No motorized vehicles, horses, off-trail travel, picking of plants, hunting, shooting, nighttime use, campfires, or littering.

Land Ownership: The Castle Rock Natural Area abutting the parking area was acquired by the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust in 2013. The property was later deeded to the City of Wenatchee, but the Land Trust maintains the trails and holds a conservation easement to the property that prevents future development. The higher lands protecting Castle Rock proper and Chopper as natural areas were acquired by the Land Trust in 2023 and are referred to as Castle Rock Ridge.

Upcoming Events: Ice Cream Social with CDLT’s New Executive Director – August 1
Cool off on a summer evening and help us welcome Hanne Beener, CDLT’s new Executive Director! Join us at the Saddle Rock Shelter from 6:00–8:00 PM for free ice cream, lawn games, and kid-friendly fun. This casual, family-friendly gathering is a great way to connect with fellow nature lovers and the Land Trust community. Drop by for a few minutes or stay the whole time—we’d love to see you! 

Susan Ballinger is a board member of the Wenatchee Valley Chapter of Washington Native Plant Society. She also serves as a biologist consultant on the CDLT Stewardship team and is the founder of the Wenatchee Naturalist program.
 

Forty for Forty. Recognizing the 40^th Anniversary of the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust with 40 stories about places the CDLT has protected and kept open for public access.