Penstemon fruticiformis var. fruticiformis
Desert beardtongue
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Penstemon fruticiformis var. fruticiformis (Desert beardtongue) is a native California shrub in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by var. amargosae by larger glabrous flowers and sepal shape.
Desert beardtongue is a California native shrub found in southern Sierra Nevada and northern Mojave Desert in gravelly washes and canyon floors of creosote-bush scrub and pinyon-juniper woodland at elevations of 1,000 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces lavender to purple flowers with a wide, open throat approximately 24 to 28 millimeters long. Growing with sturdy woody stems that form a distinctive shrubby structure, it develops a compact and resilient growth habit. Its leaves are arranged to create a dense, textured appearance, supporting the plant's adaptation to arid desert environments. The flower's pale calyx with widely ovate lobes and expansive corolla throat provide a distinctive visual signature in its harsh desert landscape.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 35 sympatric species; distinguished from var. amargosae by larger glabrous flowers and sepal shape
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly washes, canyon floors in creosote-bush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: generally 1000-1700 m
California counties: Inyo, Kern
Bloom period
Penstemon fruticiformis var. fruticiformis 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 fruticiformis var. fruticiformis native to California?
Yes. Penstemon fruticiformis var. fruticiformis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Penstemon fruticiformis var. fruticiformis bloom?
Penstemon fruticiformis var. fruticiformis blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Penstemon fruticiformis var. fruticiformis grow?
Penstemon fruticiformis var. fruticiformis occurs in Inyo, Kern, at elevations of generally 1000-1700 m.
What plant family does Penstemon fruticiformis var. fruticiformis belong to?
Penstemon fruticiformis var. fruticiformis is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
What habitat does Penstemon fruticiformis var. fruticiformis grow in?
Penstemon fruticiformis var. fruticiformis grows in Gravelly washes, canyon floors in creosote-bush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Penstemon gracilentus — Slender beardtongue
- Penstemon grinnellii — Grinnell's beardtongue
- Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii — Grinnell's beardtongue
- Penstemon grinnellii var. scrophularioides — Grinnell's beardtongue
- Penstemon heterodoxus — Sierra beardtongue
- Penstemon heterodoxus var. cephalophorus — Sierra 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.