Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus
Foothill penstemon
Photo: parent species Penstemon heterophyllus · (c) Kenzie Anderson-Bell, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus (Foothill penstemon) is a native California subshrub in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by generally glabrous herbage and narrow leaves.
Foothill penstemon is a California native perennial found in northern and southern Coast Ranges, western Transverse Ranges in grassland, chaparral, and forest openings at elevations of 50 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces blue to purple flowers in distinctive clusters with delicate, trumpet-shaped blooms. Growing with slender stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall, it develops characteristic axillary leaf clusters at lower nodes. Its leaves are narrow and linear, ranging from 0.5 to 5 millimeters wide, with a distinctive glabrous surface that gives the plant a clean, elegant appearance. The plant often forms dense clumps in open, sunny areas of California's coastal landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 29 sympatric species; distinguished by generally glabrous herbage and narrow leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassland, chaparral, forest openings
Elevation: 50-1900 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Riverside, Los Angeles, Monterey, Lake, Orange, San Diego, Santa Clara, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Merced, Colusa, Tehama, Butte, Glenn, Napa, Mendocino, Sonoma, Fresno, Humboldt, Ventura, Contra Costa, Alameda, Stanislaus, San Benito, Placer, El Dorado, Del Norte, Plumas, Trinity
Bloom period
Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus blooms Apr-Jul.
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 var. heterophyllus native to California?
Yes. Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus bloom?
Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus grow?
Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus occurs in San Luis Obispo, Riverside, Los Angeles, Monterey, Lake, Orange, San Diego, Santa Clara and other counties, at elevations of 50-1900 m.
What plant family does Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus belong to?
Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
What habitat does Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus grow in?
Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus grows in Grassland, chaparral, forest openings.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.