Penstemon heterophyllus
Bunchleaf penstemon
(c) Kenzie Anderson-Bell, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Penstemon heterophyllus (Bunchleaf penstemon) is a native California subshrub in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by distinctive blue glabrous corollas and hairy anther margins.
Bunchleaf penstemon is a California native perennial found in foothill and mountain habitats across California. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces striking blue flowers in tubular corollas 23 to 40 millimeters long with distinctive long-haired anther sacs. Growing with woody-branched stems 25 to 150 centimeters tall, it forms an upright and robust clump in rocky or open areas. Its leaves are linear to oblanceolate, 20 to 95 millimeters long, with tapered bases and nearly entire margins. The plant's delicate blue flowers and slender growth form make it a distinctive and attractive addition to California's native landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 50 sympatric species; distinctive blue glabrous corollas and hairy anther margins
Habitat and range
California counties: Los Angeles, Tulare, Lake, Orange, Riverside, Monterey, Santa Clara, Glenn, Alameda, San Diego, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Nevada, Kern, Madera, Butte, Mendocino, Mariposa, San Bernardino, Fresno, Solano, San Mateo, Colusa, Tehama, Modoc, Siskiyou, Merced, Napa, Yuba, Humboldt, Contra Costa, Sutter, Sonoma, Trinity, Del Norte, Lassen, El Dorado, Yolo, Stanislaus, Amador, Tuolumne, Shasta
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 heterophyllus native to California?
Yes. Penstemon heterophyllus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Penstemon heterophyllus grow?
Penstemon heterophyllus occurs in Los Angeles, Tulare, Lake, Orange, Riverside, Monterey, Santa Clara, Glenn and other counties.
What plant family does Penstemon heterophyllus belong to?
Penstemon heterophyllus is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Penstemon heterophyllus var. australis — Southern foothill penstemon
- Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus — Foothill penstemon
- Penstemon heterophyllus var. purdyi — Purdy's foothill penstemon
- Penstemon humilis var. humilis — Low beardtongue
- Penstemon incertus — Mojave beardtongue
- Penstemon janishiae — Janish'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.