Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington, but more common east of the crest; Alaska to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Common in forest openings, thickets, hillsides, roadsides, meadows and other open areas with dry soil, from low elevations to nearly subalpine areas.

Flowers: June-September

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, flies, butterflies, beetles, wasps

Perennial herbs with milky juice, the freely-branched stems 2-5 dm. tall, glabrous to white-woolly.

Leaves opposite, entire, sub-sessile to petiolate, drooping, oblong-elliptic to ovate, 2.5-7 cm. long, often tipped with a sharp, slender point.

Inflorescence usually a terminal cyme, but often with axillary cymes as well; calyx less than half as long as the corolla, divided about its length, the 5 lobes ovate to lanceolate; corolla pinkish, 5-7 mm. long, from tubular to bell-shaped, the 5 lobes oblong-lanceolate, about the length of the tube, erect to spreading; there are triangular, awl-shaped appendages alternate with the bases of the 5 stamens in the corolla tube; style very short, enlarged; ovary superior.

Follicles 2, elongate, 5-14 cm. long, erect to reflexed.