Penstemon labrosus
San gabriel beardtongue
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Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Penstemon labrosus (San gabriel beardtongue) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by distinctive orange-red tubular flowers with hooded upper lip.
San gabriel beardtongue is a California native perennial found in Transverse Ranges and Peninsular Ranges in pinyon/juniper woodland and pine and mixed-hardwood forests at elevations of 1,200 to 3,100 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces orange-red to yellow flowers with a distinctive cylindric corolla 30 to 40 millimeters long, featuring an upper lip that forms a hood and a lower lip strongly curved backward. Growing with erect stems 30 to 70 centimeters tall, it has a glabrous (smooth and hairless) appearance. Its cauline leaves are linear, 30 to 85 millimeters long, generally rolled inward and entire. The flower's calyx has ovate lobes 3.5 to 5.5 millimeters long, with glabrous anther-sacs that open in the distal two-thirds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; distinctive orange-red tubular flowers with hooded upper lip
Habitat and range
Habitat: Pinyon/juniper woodland, pine and mixed-hardwood forests
Elevation: 1200-3100 m
California counties: Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Diego, Inyo, Kern, Mono, Tulare
Outside California: Mexico
Bloom period
Penstemon labrosus 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 labrosus native to California?
Yes. Penstemon labrosus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Penstemon labrosus bloom?
Penstemon labrosus blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Penstemon labrosus grow?
Penstemon labrosus occurs in Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Diego, Inyo, Kern, Mono and other counties, at elevations of 1200-3100 m.
What plant family does Penstemon labrosus belong to?
Penstemon labrosus is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
What habitat does Penstemon labrosus grow in?
Penstemon labrosus grows in Pinyon/juniper woodland, pine and mixed-hardwood forests.
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.