Penstemon fruticiformis var. amargosae

Amargosa beardtongue, Amargosa Beardtongue

Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3

Amargosa beardtongue is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native shrub found in northern Mojave Desert regions in creosote-bush scrub at elevations of 1,000 to 1,750 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces lavender to purple flowers with an expansive throat 8 to 10 millimeters wide when pressed. Growing with upright branching stems to 1 meter tall, it forms a dense, woody shrub with multiple stems. Its leaves are narrow and elongated, typical of penstemon species, with a compact arrangement along the stems. The flower's distinctive wide throat and glandular exterior make it a notable member of the penstemon genus in desert habitats.

Habitat: Creosote-bush scrub

Bloom period: May-Jun

Elevation: generally 1000-1750 m

Bioregions: n DMoj

California counties: Inyo, San Bernardino

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.