Keckiella cordifolia
Climbing penstemon
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Keckiella cordifolia (Climbing penstemon) is a native California shrub in the Plantaginaceae family.
Climbing penstemon is a California native shrub found in southern Santa Lucia Mountains and southwestern California in chaparral and forest habitats at elevations below 1,600 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces vibrant red to red-orange flowers with long tubular corollas 31 to 43 millimeters in length. Growing with spreading stems up to 3 meters tall, it has young stems that are glabrous to short-hairy. Its leaves are nearly opposite with ovate blades 20 to 65 millimeters long, featuring rounded to heart-shaped bases and margins with 3 to 11 short teeth. The plant's inflorescence is distinctively glandular and stiffly hairy, with a staminode densely covered in yellow hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species. Key differentiators: large red flowers, cordate leaf bases
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, forest
Elevation: < 1600 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Alameda, San Francisco
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Keckiella cordifolia blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Penstemon: Keckiella has woody stems that persist year-round; Penstemon is herbaceous and dies back.; vs Epilobium: Keckiella has tubular two-lipped flowers with five stamens; Epilobium has four-petaled open flowers.; vs Tecomaria: Keckiella has small tubular flowers under 1 inch; Tecomaria has large showy orange-red trumpet flowers.; vs Larrea: Keckiella has tubular snapdragon-like flowers; Larrea has small yellow five-petaled flowers and resinous leaves.; vs Salvia: Keckiella has five stamens (one sterile); Salvia has only two fertile stamens and square stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Keckiella cordifolia native to California?
Yes. Keckiella cordifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Keckiella cordifolia bloom?
Keckiella cordifolia blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Keckiella cordifolia grow?
Keckiella cordifolia occurs in San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and other counties, at elevations of < 1600 m.
What plant family does Keckiella cordifolia belong to?
Keckiella cordifolia is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Keckiella.
What habitat does Keckiella cordifolia grow in?
Keckiella cordifolia grows in Chaparral, forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.