Penstemon spectabilis var. spectabilis

Showy penstemon

Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Showy penstemon is a California native perennial found in the southern California Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, and Peninsular Ranges on gravelly and sandy slopes, banks of washes, coastal-sage scrub, chaparral, and oak woodland at elevations of 100 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces vibrant flowers in glabrous inflorescences with distinctive coloration. Growing with sturdy stems reaching moderate heights, it forms dense clusters in its native habitats. Its leaves are arranged along the stem, providing structural support and contributing to the plant's robust appearance. The chromosomal structure of 2n=16 suggests a stable genetic foundation for this striking wildflower.

Habitat: Gravelly and sandy slopes, banks of washes, coastal-sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodland

Bloom period: Apr-Jun

Elevation: 100-1800 m

Bioregions: SnGb, SnBr, PR

California counties: Riverside, Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.