Penstemon parvulus
Short stalk penstemon
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Penstemon parvulus (Short stalk penstemon) is a native California perennial in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by matted habit with glabrous glaucous herbage diagnostic.
Short stalk penstemon is a California native perennial found in the southern Sierra Nevada and Klamath Ranges in rocky, open foothill and montane forests at elevations of 400 to 3,100 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces blue to violet flowers 14 to 20 millimeters long with a glabrous corolla. Growing with loosely matted stems 15 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms a woody-branched base and has a glaucous, glabrous appearance. Its leaves are cauline, 10 to 45 millimeters long, lanceolate to ovate, and weakly serrate, clasping the stem. The flower's calyx is 3 to 5 millimeters long with lanceolate to widely obovate lobes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 41 sympatric species; matted habit with glabrous glaucous herbage diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky, open foothill and montane forests
Elevation: 400-3100 m
California counties: Fresno, Tulare, Nevada, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Trinity, Humboldt, Shasta, Alpine, Mendocino, Placer, Inyo
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Penstemon parvulus blooms Jun-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 parvulus native to California?
Yes. Penstemon parvulus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Penstemon parvulus bloom?
Penstemon parvulus blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Penstemon parvulus grow?
Penstemon parvulus occurs in Fresno, Tulare, Nevada, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Trinity, Humboldt, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of 400-3100 m.
What plant family does Penstemon parvulus belong to?
Penstemon parvulus is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
What habitat does Penstemon parvulus grow in?
Penstemon parvulus grows in Rocky, open foothill and montane forests.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.