Penstemon tracyi
Tracy's beardtongue
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Penstemon tracyi (Tracy's beardtongue) is a native California subshrub in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by very small size and round leaves on rock outcrops.
Tracy's beardtongue is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in the southern Klamath Ranges in northern Trinity County on exposed outcrops at elevations of 2,000 to 2,250 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces delicate flowers with a white to lavender corolla 11 to 13 millimeters long, featuring a distinctively hairy flower floor. Growing as a compact perennial herb 8 to 12 centimeters tall, it develops a low, glabrous form with minimal branching. Its leaves are primarily basal and obovate, with cauline leaves 10 to 20 millimeters long, ovate to nearly round and having a widely wedge-shaped base. The flower's distinctive staminode with a hairy-tufted tip and small, flat-spreading anther sacs provide unique identification characteristics.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 25 sympatric species; very small size and round leaves on rock outcrops
Habitat and range
Habitat: Exposed outcrops
Elevation: 2000-2250 m
California counties: Trinity, Siskiyou
Bloom period
Penstemon tracyi blooms Jul-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
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 tracyi native to California?
Yes. Penstemon tracyi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Penstemon tracyi bloom?
Penstemon tracyi blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Penstemon tracyi grow?
Penstemon tracyi occurs in Trinity, Siskiyou, at elevations of 2000-2250 m.
What plant family does Penstemon tracyi belong to?
Penstemon tracyi is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
Is Penstemon tracyi rare or endangered?
Penstemon tracyi carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Penstemon utahensis — Utah beardtongue
- Penstemon venustus — Venus penstemon
- Penstemon albomarginatus — White-margined beardtongue
- Penstemon anguineus — Siskiyou beardtongue
- Penstemon azureus — Azure penstemon
- Penstemon azureus var. angustissimus — Azure penstemon
- Plantaginaceae sp. — Plantain family
- Plantago arenaria — Indian plantain
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.