Penstemon clevelandii
Cleveland's beardtongue
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Penstemon clevelandii (Cleveland's beardtongue) is a native California subshrub in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by Much-branched glabrous PR/DSon perennial; wide pink-magenta glandular corolla, not a red tube.
Cleveland's beardtongue is a California native perennial herb found in rocky or chaparral habitats at elevations of 500 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces pink to magenta or red-purple flowers with a gradually expanding throat that is 4.5 to 8 millimeters wide when pressed. Growing 30 to 70 centimeters tall with a much-branched habit, the plant has a distinctively glabrous (smooth, hairless) herbage. Its thick leaves are approximately 20 to 60 millimeters long and somewhat ovate in shape. The flower's calyx is 3.5 to 6.5 millimeters long with ovate to nearly round lobes, and the corolla is glandular both outside and inside.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Much-branched glabrous PR/DSon perennial; wide pink-magenta glandular corolla, not a red tube
Habitat and range
California counties: Imperial, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside
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 clevelandii native to California?
Yes. Penstemon clevelandii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Penstemon clevelandii grow?
Penstemon clevelandii occurs in Imperial, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside.
What plant family does Penstemon clevelandii belong to?
Penstemon clevelandii is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Penstemon clevelandii var. clevelandii — Cleveland's beardtongue
- Penstemon clevelandii var. connatus — San jacinto beardtongue
- Penstemon clevelandii var. mohavensis — Mohave beard's tongue
- Penstemon davidsonii var. davidsonii — Davidson's beardtongue
- Penstemon deustus — Hot-rock penstemon
- Penstemon deustus var. deustus — Scabland penstemon
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.