Penstemon grinnellii
Grinnell's beardtongue
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Penstemon grinnellii (Grinnell's beardtongue) is a native California subshrub in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by distinctive leaf posture and wide throat with exserted golden staminode.
Grinnell's beardtongue is a California native perennial herb found in rocky or dry habitats at elevations of 50 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces lavender to purple flowers with a distinctive wide throat 10 to 18 millimeters across, adorned with intricate internal markings. Growing 10 to 85 centimeters tall with smooth stems that become glandular near the flower clusters, it develops an upright, somewhat arching form. Its thick lanceolate leaves measure 50 to 90 millimeters long, often folded lengthwise and curving gracefully, with edges ranging from nearly entire to slightly toothed. The plant's staminode is particularly notable, emerging from the flower and covered in dense golden to yellow hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 41 sympatric species; distinctive leaf posture and wide throat with exserted golden staminode
Habitat and range
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, Ventura, San Benito, Orange, Tulare, Inyo, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Fresno
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 grinnellii native to California?
Yes. Penstemon grinnellii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Penstemon grinnellii grow?
Penstemon grinnellii occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, Ventura, San Benito, Orange, Tulare and other counties.
What plant family does Penstemon grinnellii belong to?
Penstemon grinnellii is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii — Grinnell's beardtongue
- Penstemon grinnellii var. scrophularioides — Grinnell's beardtongue
- Penstemon heterodoxus — Sierra beardtongue
- Penstemon heterodoxus var. cephalophorus — Sierra beardtongue
- Penstemon heterodoxus var. heterodoxus — Sierra beardtongue
- Penstemon heterodoxus var. shastensis — Shasta 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.