Penstemon roezlii
Regel's mountain penstemon
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Penstemon roezlii (Regel's mountain penstemon) is a native California subshrub in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by folded linear leaves and partially dehiscent anthers diagnostic.
Regel's mountain penstemon is a California native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in dry sagebrush, juniper scrub, and conifer forest at elevations of 300 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces purple-blue flowers 14 to 22 millimeters long with glandular exteriors. Growing as a subshrub 15 to 55 centimeters tall with woody branches, it develops a distinctively structured growth habit. Its leaves are linear to lance-shaped, generally 15 to 70 millimeters long and often folded lengthwise, covering the stems with a hairy herbage. The plant's flower structure includes narrow calyx lobes and distinctive long-haired anther sacs that open at their proximal end.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 46 sympatric species; folded linear leaves and partially dehiscent anthers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: +- Dry sagebrush or juniper scrub, conifer forest
Elevation: 300-3500 m
California counties: El Dorado, Modoc, Amador, Tulare, Alpine, Lassen, Siskiyou, Plumas, Inyo, Del Norte, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Sierra, Placer, Trinity, Shasta, Madera, Nevada, Merced, Mono, Mariposa
Outside California: Oregon, Nevada
Bloom period
Penstemon roezlii blooms May-Jul.
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 roezlii native to California?
Yes. Penstemon roezlii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Penstemon roezlii bloom?
Penstemon roezlii blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Penstemon roezlii grow?
Penstemon roezlii occurs in El Dorado, Modoc, Amador, Tulare, Alpine, Lassen, Siskiyou, Plumas and other counties, at elevations of 300-3500 m.
What plant family does Penstemon roezlii belong to?
Penstemon roezlii is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
What habitat does Penstemon roezlii grow in?
Penstemon roezlii grows in +- Dry sagebrush or juniper scrub, conifer forest.
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.