Penstemon heterodoxus var. cephalophorus
Sierra beardtongue
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Penstemon heterodoxus var. cephalophorus (Sierra beardtongue) is a native California subshrub in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by found at 1900-3200m in subalpine and alpine zones.
Sierra beardtongue is a California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada Mountains on subalpine and alpine slopes, meadows, and scree at elevations of 1,900 to 3,200 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces flowers in compact clusters with 2 to 6 strongly glandular flower heads. Growing 15 to 35 centimeters tall with erect stems, it develops a compact, clustered form typical of alpine environments. Its leaves are relatively large, measuring 20 to 70 millimeters long and 6 to 14 millimeters wide, providing substantial surface area for high-elevation photosynthesis. The plant's glandular characteristics and compact alpine growth make it well-adapted to harsh mountain conditions.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; found at 1900-3200m in subalpine and alpine zones
Habitat and range
Habitat: Subalpine and alpine slopes, meadows, scree
Elevation: 1900-3200 m
California counties: Fresno, Tulare, Inyo, Madera, Mono, Alpine, Siskiyou, Placer, El Dorado, Tuolumne
Bloom period
Penstemon heterodoxus var. cephalophorus blooms Jul-Aug.
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 heterodoxus var. cephalophorus native to California?
Yes. Penstemon heterodoxus var. cephalophorus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Penstemon heterodoxus var. cephalophorus bloom?
Penstemon heterodoxus var. cephalophorus blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Penstemon heterodoxus var. cephalophorus grow?
Penstemon heterodoxus var. cephalophorus occurs in Fresno, Tulare, Inyo, Madera, Mono, Alpine, Siskiyou, Placer and other counties, at elevations of 1900-3200 m.
What plant family does Penstemon heterodoxus var. cephalophorus belong to?
Penstemon heterodoxus var. cephalophorus is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
What habitat does Penstemon heterodoxus var. cephalophorus grow in?
Penstemon heterodoxus var. cephalophorus grows in Subalpine and alpine slopes, meadows, scree.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Penstemon heterodoxus var. heterodoxus — Sierra beardtongue
- Penstemon heterodoxus var. shastensis — Shasta beardtongue
- Penstemon heterophyllus — Bunchleaf penstemon
- Penstemon heterophyllus var. australis — Southern foothill penstemon
- Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus — Foothill penstemon
- Penstemon heterophyllus var. purdyi — Purdy's foothill penstemon
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.