Penstemon humilis var. humilis
Low beardtongue
Andrey Zharkikh from Salt Lake City, USA (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Penstemon humilis var. humilis (Low beardtongue) is a native California subshrub in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by mat-forming habit with petioled basal leaves and small blue flowers.
Low beardtongue is a California native perennial found in the high Sierra Nevada and Great Basin regions in open montane to subalpine forests, sagebrush scrub, and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 1,500 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces blue flowers with a lighter yellow or white hairy floor, featuring a cylindric to narrowly funnel-shaped corolla 11 to 15 millimeters long. Growing in mat-forming clusters 5 to 35 centimeters tall with stems that are short-hairy, it has a distinctive growth pattern. Its leaves include numerous basal leaves 20 to 75 millimeters long, broadly obovate and petioled, with cauline leaves that are lanceolate to obovate and sessile, clasping the stem. The plant features an orange to yellow-hairy staminode and glandular-lined flower surfaces, creating a unique botanical profile.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 34 sympatric species; mat-forming habit with petioled basal leaves and small blue flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open montane to subalpine forests, sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1500-3000 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Inyo, Modoc, Mono, El Dorado, Lassen
Outside California: to Oregon, Wyoming, Colorado
Bloom period
Penstemon humilis var. humilis blooms May-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 humilis var. humilis native to California?
Yes. Penstemon humilis var. humilis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Penstemon humilis var. humilis bloom?
Penstemon humilis var. humilis blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Penstemon humilis var. humilis grow?
Penstemon humilis var. humilis occurs in Siskiyou, Inyo, Modoc, Mono, El Dorado, Lassen, at elevations of 1500-3000 m.
What plant family does Penstemon humilis var. humilis belong to?
Penstemon humilis var. humilis is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
What habitat does Penstemon humilis var. humilis grow in?
Penstemon humilis var. humilis grows in Open montane to subalpine forests, sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.