Penstemon procerus
Littleflower penstemon
(c) J Brew, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by J Brew · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Penstemon procerus (Littleflower penstemon) is a native California subshrub in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by distinctive small flowers.
Littleflower penstemon is a California native perennial found in alpine and subalpine habitats at high elevations in mountain regions. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces blue-purple flowers with white to yellow-hairy flower floors, typically 6 to 10 millimeters long. Growing with a matted, compact form reaching 5 to 40 centimeters tall, it develops glabrous stems with occasional hairy proximal stems. Its leaves are distinctive, with numerous basal leaves that are oblanceolate to obovate, while upper stems feature narrower lanceolate leaves. The plant's delicate blue-purple blossoms and low-growing, spread-out structure make it a charming alpine wildflower.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; distinctive small flowers
Habitat and range
California counties: Siskiyou, Trinity, Shasta, Inyo, Sierra, Glenn, Tuolumne, Modoc, Humboldt, Butte, Mono, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Fresno, Mariposa, Plumas, Amador
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 procerus native to California?
Yes. Penstemon procerus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Penstemon procerus grow?
Penstemon procerus occurs in Siskiyou, Trinity, Shasta, Inyo, Sierra, Glenn, Tuolumne, Modoc and other counties.
What plant family does Penstemon procerus belong to?
Penstemon procerus is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Penstemon procerus var. brachyanthus — Pincushion beardtongue
- Penstemon procerus var. formosus — Pincushion beardtongue
- Penstemon pseudospectabilis — Desert penstemon
- Penstemon pseudospectabilis ssp. pseudospectabilis — desert beardtongue
- Penstemon purpusii — Snow mountain beardtongue
- Penstemon rattanii — Rattan's beardtongue
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.