Penstemon monoensis
Mono penstemon
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Penstemon monoensis (Mono penstemon) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by dense backward-pointing hairs and narrow throat diagnostic.
Mono penstemon is a California native perennial found in the eastern Sierra Nevada and Mojave Desert bioregions in sandy and gravelly washes, sagebrush scrub, and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 1,200 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces pink to red-violet flowers in a cylindric to narrowly funnel-shaped corolla 15 to 20 millimeters long with a white to pale pink throat. Growing with dense, ashy, backward-pointing hairs and reaching 7 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms an upright herb with distinctive glandular characteristics. Its cauline leaves are lanceolate, 50 to 120 millimeters long, ranging from entire to lightly toothed. The flower features a calyx 8 to 11 millimeters long with lanceolate lobes and a staminode covered in yellow hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 35 sympatric species; dense backward-pointing hairs and narrow throat diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy and gravelly washes and hills, sagebrush scrub, Joshua-tree and pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1200-1800 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono
Bloom period
Penstemon monoensis blooms Apr-May.
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 monoensis native to California?
Yes. Penstemon monoensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Penstemon monoensis bloom?
Penstemon monoensis blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Penstemon monoensis grow?
Penstemon monoensis occurs in Inyo, Mono, at elevations of 1200-1800 m.
What plant family does Penstemon monoensis belong to?
Penstemon monoensis is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
What habitat does Penstemon monoensis grow in?
Penstemon monoensis grows in Sandy and gravelly washes and hills, sagebrush scrub, Joshua-tree and pinyon/juniper woodland.
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.