Penstemon floridus
Panamint beardtongue
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Penstemon floridus (Panamint beardtongue) is a native California subshrub in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by glaucous herbage, thick cordate-clasping leaves, rose-pink lined corollas.
Panamint beardtongue is a California native perennial herb found in desert mountain ranges in rocky habitats at elevations of 1,000 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces rose-pink flowers with strongly lined corollas 21 to 30 millimeters long, creating a distinctive and elegant display. Growing with tall stems 50 to 120 centimeters high, the plant has a glaucous appearance with thick, glabrous herbage. Its leaves are thick and distinctive, with distal cauline leaves being lanceolate or ovate, cordate-clasping, and generally dentate toward the tips. The plant's unique floral structure includes glandular-hairy inflorescences and a calyx with ovate lobes 4.2 to 6.2 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 35 sympatric species; key features are glaucous herbage, thick cordate-clasping leaves, rose-pink lined corollas
Habitat and range
California counties: Inyo, Mono, San Bernardino, Ventura
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 floridus native to California?
Yes. Penstemon floridus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Penstemon floridus grow?
Penstemon floridus occurs in Inyo, Mono, San Bernardino, Ventura.
What plant family does Penstemon floridus belong to?
Penstemon floridus is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Penstemon floridus var. austinii — Austin's beardtongue
- Penstemon floridus var. floridus — Panamint beardtongue
- Penstemon fruticiformis — Death valley beardtongue
- Penstemon fruticiformis var. amargosae — Amargosa beardtongue
- Penstemon fruticiformis var. fruticiformis — Desert beardtongue
- Penstemon gracilentus — Slender beardtongue
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.