Penstemon davidsonii var. davidsonii
Davidson's beardtongue
Walter Siegmund (talk) (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Penstemon davidsonii var. davidsonii (Davidson's beardtongue) is a native California subshrub in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by low mat-forming habit and white-woolly anther sacs distinctive.
Davidson's beardtongue is a California native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, high Cascades, Sierra Nevada, Warner Mountains, and northern eastern Sierra Nevada in montane to alpine outcrops and talus at elevations of 2,000 to 3,750 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces blue-violet to blue-purple flowers with white-shaggy inner surfaces, creating a striking contrast. Growing as a low, mat-forming shrub less than 10 centimeters tall with short hairs, it spreads horizontally across rocky terrain. Its leaves are mostly basal, with elliptic to obovate blades 5 to 30 millimeters long, appearing green and smooth. The flower's distinctive white-woolly anthers and pale yellow-hairy staminode add to its unique alpine character.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 54 sympatric species; low mat-forming habit and white-woolly anther sacs distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Montane to alpine outcrops, talus
Elevation: 2000-3750 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Mono, Fresno, Modoc, Tulare, Del Norte, El Dorado, Alpine, Madera, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Mendocino, Shasta, Inyo, Lassen, Plumas, Sierra, Kern
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Penstemon davidsonii var. davidsonii blooms Jul-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 davidsonii var. davidsonii native to California?
Yes. Penstemon davidsonii var. davidsonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Penstemon davidsonii var. davidsonii bloom?
Penstemon davidsonii var. davidsonii blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Penstemon davidsonii var. davidsonii grow?
Penstemon davidsonii var. davidsonii occurs in Siskiyou, Mono, Fresno, Modoc, Tulare, Del Norte, El Dorado, Alpine and other counties, at elevations of 2000-3750 m.
What plant family does Penstemon davidsonii var. davidsonii belong to?
Penstemon davidsonii var. davidsonii is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
What habitat does Penstemon davidsonii var. davidsonii grow in?
Penstemon davidsonii var. davidsonii grows in Montane to alpine outcrops, talus.
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.