The Alpine Penstemon grows at very high altitudes (up to 3800m), but can't tolerate cold winters without its insulating blanket of snow. As a result, it grows close to the ground. It's the only penstemon in the Yosemite area with round, stubby little leaves that look almost list those of the stonecrops. Like the Mountain Pride Penstemmon, it does not have dense whorls of flowers and it's throat is hairy, but unlike the MPP, the flowers are blue rather than rose.