Penstemon deustus
Hot-rock penstemon
(c) Brian Finzel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Brian Finzel · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Penstemon deustus (Hot-rock penstemon) is a native California subshrub in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by Low subshrub; toothed leaves + small cream-white dark-lined corolla (vs blue/red congeners).
Hot-rock penstemon is a California native shrub found in rocky, open habitats at moderate elevations. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces cream-white flowers with dark lines, approximately 8 to 15 millimeters long and slightly glandular on the exterior. Growing as a compact subshrub less than 40 centimeters tall with subglabrous to glandular-hairy herbage, it develops a distinctive low, spreading form. Its opposite leaves are 8 to 50 millimeters long with dentate margins, providing a delicate textural element to the plant's appearance. The flower's staminode is either glabrous or bearded at the tip, adding a subtle complexity to its reproductive structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Low subshrub; toothed leaves + small cream-white dark-lined corolla (vs blue/red congeners)
Habitat and range
California counties: Modoc, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Plumas, Trinity, Placer, Mono, El Dorado, Sierra, Alpine, Inyo, Nevada, Lassen, Del Norte, Amador, Tehama, Glenn, Shasta, Butte, Tuolumne
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 deustus native to California?
Yes. Penstemon deustus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Penstemon deustus grow?
Penstemon deustus occurs in Modoc, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Plumas, Trinity, Placer, Mono, El Dorado and other counties.
What plant family does Penstemon deustus belong to?
Penstemon deustus is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Penstemon deustus var. deustus — Scabland penstemon
- Penstemon deustus var. pedicellatus — Hot rock beardtongue
- Penstemon deustus var. suffrutescens — Hot rock beardtongue
- Penstemon eatonii — Eaton firecracker
- Penstemon eatonii var. eatonii — Eaton's penstemon
- Penstemon eatonii var. undosus — Eaton's firecracker
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.