Penstemon floridus var. austinii
Austin's beardtongue
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Penstemon floridus var. austinii (Austin's beardtongue) is a native California subshrub in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by var. floridus by flower shape and size.
Austin's beardtongue is a California native perennial found in the northern Death Mountains and Inyo Mountains in gravelly washes, canyon floors, sagebrush scrub, and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 1,400 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces flowers with a pale lavender to pink corolla that gradually expands to a wide throat, reaching up to 11 millimeters across when pressed. Growing with upright stems typical of beardtongue species, it develops a robust and compact form characteristic of mountain habitat plants. Its leaves are arranged in dense clusters, providing a structured and compact appearance against the rocky mountain landscapes. The flower's distinctive tubular shape, with a mouth perpendicular to its slender tube, offers a unique architectural quality to this desert mountain wildflower.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 24 sympatric species; distinguished from var. floridus by flower shape and size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly washes, canyon floors, in sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1400-3000 m
California counties: Inyo
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Penstemon floridus var. austinii blooms May-Jun.
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 var. austinii native to California?
Yes. Penstemon floridus var. austinii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Penstemon floridus var. austinii bloom?
Penstemon floridus var. austinii blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Penstemon floridus var. austinii grow?
Penstemon floridus var. austinii occurs in Inyo, at elevations of 1400-3000 m.
What plant family does Penstemon floridus var. austinii belong to?
Penstemon floridus var. austinii is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
What habitat does Penstemon floridus var. austinii grow in?
Penstemon floridus var. austinii grows in Gravelly washes, canyon floors, in sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Penstemon grinnellii — Grinnell's 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.