Penstemon anguineus
Siskiyou beardtongue
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Penstemon anguineus (Siskiyou beardtongue) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by distinctive leaf shape and glandular inflorescence.
Siskiyou beardtongue is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges and northern Coast Range highlands in open, logged conifer forest areas at elevations of 600 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces blue to purple-violet flowers with an abruptly expanded throat, 13 to 18 millimeters long and glandular on the outside. Growing with erect stems 20 to 90 centimeters tall, the plant is mostly glabrous except near the flower clusters. Its leaves are distinctively variable, with basal leaves lanceolate to narrowly ovate, middle stem leaves narrowly elliptic, and upper stem leaves 10 to 70 millimeters long, lanceolate to ovate and cordate-clasping. The flower's lower lip features a staminode with sparse hairs, adding to its distinctive appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 30 sympatric species; distinctive leaf shape and glandular inflorescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, generally logged areas of +- conifer forest
Elevation: 600-2100 m
California counties: Humboldt, Glenn, Tehama, Trinity, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Mendocino, Lake, El Dorado, Nevada, Tulare, Fresno
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Penstemon anguineus blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Epilobium: Penstemon has tubular two-lipped flowers with five stamens; Epilobium has four-petaled open flowers with eight stamens.; vs Keckiella: Penstemon is herbaceous and dies back; Keckiella has persistent woody stems year-round.; vs Salvia: Penstemon has five stamens (one sterile); Salvia has only two fertile stamens and square stems.; vs Ipomopsis: Penstemon has two-lipped tubular flowers; Ipomopsis has star-shaped flowers with five equal lobes.; vs Antirrhinum: Penstemon has a sterile stamen visible inside; Antirrhinum has only four stamens, none sterile.
Frequently asked questions
Is Penstemon anguineus native to California?
Yes. Penstemon anguineus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Penstemon anguineus bloom?
Penstemon anguineus blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Penstemon anguineus grow?
Penstemon anguineus occurs in Humboldt, Glenn, Tehama, Trinity, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Mendocino, Lake and other counties, at elevations of 600-2100 m.
What plant family does Penstemon anguineus belong to?
Penstemon anguineus is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
What habitat does Penstemon anguineus grow in?
Penstemon anguineus grows in Open, generally logged areas of +- conifer 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.