Penstemon newberryi var. sonomensis

Sonoma beardtongue

Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3

Sonoma beardtongue is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native shrub found in the northern Coast Ranges, specifically in the peaks of Lake, Napa, and Sonoma counties, growing on rocky outcrops and talus slopes at elevations of 500 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces dark rose-purple flowers with a distinctive throat 5.5 to 6.5 millimeters wide when pressed. Growing with stems that maintain substantial leaf size throughout, it forms a compact shrubby structure with slightly variable height. Its leaves remain relatively consistent in size from base to tip, without significant reduction along the stem. The flowers feature unique characteristics, with two to four stamens extending beyond the corolla and short hairs lining the flower's throat.

Habitat: Outcrops, talus

Bloom period: Jun-Aug

Elevation: 500-2400 m

Bioregions: NCoR (peaks of Lake, Napa, Sonoma cos.).

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.