Penstemon speciosus
Royal beardtongue
(c) Jim Dreier, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Dreier · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Penstemon speciosus (Royal beardtongue) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by distinctive blue flowers with white throat and clasping leaves.
Royal beardtongue is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Transverse Ranges, Great Basin, and northern Desert Mountains in open sagebrush scrub to subalpine forest at elevations of 850 to 3,800 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces striking blue flowers with white interiors, 25 to 37 millimeters long with a distinctive abruptly expanded throat. Growing with erect stems 5 to 60 centimeters tall that are short-hairy, it forms an upright and compact habit. Its upper stem leaves are lanceolate, 35 to 90 millimeters long, clasping the stem and sometimes folded lengthwise, typically glabrous. The flowers feature distinctive anther sacs that are slightly S-shaped and pubescent on the sides, giving the plant its characteristically intricate appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 78 sympatric species; distinctive blue flowers with white throat and clasping leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open sagebrush scrub to subalpine forest
Elevation: 850-3800 m
California counties: Alpine, Inyo, San Diego, Kern, Mono, Tulare, Fresno, Butte, Modoc, Placer, Lassen, Siskiyou, Plumas, Sierra, El Dorado, Los Angeles, Shasta, San Bernardino, Ventura, Nevada, Tuolumne, Amador, Mariposa, Tehama, Santa Barbara, Madera
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho, Utah
Bloom period
Penstemon speciosus 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 speciosus native to California?
Yes. Penstemon speciosus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Penstemon speciosus bloom?
Penstemon speciosus blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Penstemon speciosus grow?
Penstemon speciosus occurs in Alpine, Inyo, San Diego, Kern, Mono, Tulare, Fresno, Butte and other counties, at elevations of 850-3800 m.
What plant family does Penstemon speciosus belong to?
Penstemon speciosus is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
What habitat does Penstemon speciosus grow in?
Penstemon speciosus grows in Open sagebrush scrub to subalpine 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.