This has been combined with canescens in some treatments (e.g. J, W) or with pallidus in others (e.g. K), and it appears intermediate in some characters; see notes under those species. However, brevisepalus does appear to have some geographic segregation, being centered on the Appalachian Plateaus in Tenn., Ky. W.Va. and Va. (Pennell 1935; FNA 17; D. Estes, pers. comm.). Variety status may be reasonable, with canescens. It is locally common in non-calcareous hills of central and eastern regions of Ky., especially along roadsides. Populations vary much from year to year, and the species may be generally biennial (D. Barrett, pers. comm.). In cultivation, most eastern Penstemon species tend to be short-lived, except perhaps the digitalis complex (D. Estes, pers. comm.).