Penstemon palmeri var. palmeri
Palmer's penstemon
(c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Penstemon palmeri var. palmeri (Palmer's penstemon) is a native California subshrub in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by tall stature, clasping fused leaves, and wide throat diagnostic.
Palmer's penstemon is a California native perennial found in the Mojave Desert in washes, roadsides, and canyon floors from creosote-bush scrub to pinyon and juniper woodland at elevations of 300 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces fragrant, pale lavender-pink flowers 25 to 32 millimeters long with strong venation and a wide, glandular corolla. Growing 50 to 200 centimeters tall with glaucous, glabrous stems, it has an erect and robust habit. Its thick, upper cauline leaves are 40 to 120 millimeters long, triangular-shaped, and clasp around the stem with slightly toothed edges. The plant features a distinctive staminode with long, spreading yellow hairs, adding to its unique botanical character.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 24 sympatric species; tall stature, clasping fused leaves, and wide throat diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Washes, roadsides, canyon floors, in creosote-bush scrub to pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 300-2600 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Los Angeles
Outside California: to Utah, Arizona
Bloom period
Penstemon palmeri var. palmeri blooms May-Jun.
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 palmeri var. palmeri native to California?
Yes. Penstemon palmeri var. palmeri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Penstemon palmeri var. palmeri bloom?
Penstemon palmeri var. palmeri blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Penstemon palmeri var. palmeri grow?
Penstemon palmeri var. palmeri occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Los Angeles, at elevations of 300-2600 m.
What plant family does Penstemon palmeri var. palmeri belong to?
Penstemon palmeri var. palmeri is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
What habitat does Penstemon palmeri var. palmeri grow in?
Penstemon palmeri var. palmeri grows in Washes, roadsides, canyon floors, in creosote-bush scrub to 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.