Penstemon rydbergii var. oreocharis
Herbaceous penstemon
Gabriel Campbell (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Penstemon rydbergii var. oreocharis (Herbaceous penstemon) is a native California subshrub in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by moist habitat, small flowers, and golden-yellow staminode diagnostic.
Herbaceous penstemon is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Great Basin in moist meadows and streambanks within montane to subalpine forests at elevations of 1,000 to 3,600 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces blue to purple flowers 9 to 14 millimeters long with a white to yellow-hairy flower floor. Growing 20 to 60 centimeters tall with few-branched stems that are generally glabrous, it develops a stem base above ground. Its leaves range from oblanceolate basal forms to lanceolate upper cauline leaves, with entire margins measuring 25 to 70 millimeters long. The distinctive golden-yellow-hairy staminode provides a striking contrast to the blue to purple flower petals.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 57 sympatric species; moist habitat, small flowers, and golden-yellow staminode diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist meadows, streambanks, generally in montane to subalpine forests
Elevation: 1000-3600 m
California counties: Alpine, Amador, Lassen, Mono, Inyo, Siskiyou, Placer, Modoc, Tuolumne, Shasta, Mariposa, Fresno, Butte, Sierra, El Dorado, Nevada, Tehama, Plumas, Glenn, Madera, Tulare, Calaveras, Mendocino, Trinity
Outside California: Oregon, Nevada
Bloom period
Penstemon rydbergii var. oreocharis blooms May-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 rydbergii var. oreocharis native to California?
Yes. Penstemon rydbergii var. oreocharis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Penstemon rydbergii var. oreocharis bloom?
Penstemon rydbergii var. oreocharis blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Penstemon rydbergii var. oreocharis grow?
Penstemon rydbergii var. oreocharis occurs in Alpine, Amador, Lassen, Mono, Inyo, Siskiyou, Placer, Modoc and other counties, at elevations of 1000-3600 m.
What plant family does Penstemon rydbergii var. oreocharis belong to?
Penstemon rydbergii var. oreocharis is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
What habitat does Penstemon rydbergii var. oreocharis grow in?
Penstemon rydbergii var. oreocharis grows in Moist meadows, streambanks, generally in montane to subalpine forests.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.