Penstemon azureus

Azure penstemon

Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Azure penstemon is a California native perennial herb found in rocky or forested habitats, with distributions across western mountain regions. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces stunning lavender-blue flowers approximately 20 to 35 millimeters long with a distinctive shape. Growing with erect stems 20 to 70 centimeters tall and woody branches at the base, it develops a glabrous (smooth) structure with an upright, robust form. Its cauline leaves are particularly notable, with upper leaves widest at a cordate-clasping base and presenting an entire leaf margin. The flower's inner anther sacs feature delicate hairy margins, adding intricate botanical detail to this elegant mountain species.

California counties: Shasta, Fresno, Siskiyou, Butte, Tulare, El Dorado, Trinity, Humboldt, Nevada, Placer, Tehama, Del Norte, Madera, Sacramento, Lake, Mendocino, Colusa, Yuba, Alpine, Mariposa, Glenn, Plumas, Inyo

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.