Penstemon utahensis

Utah beardtongue

Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3

Utah beardtongue is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in the eastern desert mountains including Kingston and New York Mountains in sagebrush scrub and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 1,200 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces pink to red flowers with a cylindric to funnel-shaped corolla 17 to 25 millimeters long. Growing 15 to 50 centimeters tall with a glaucous, glabrous appearance, it develops a robust perennial structure. Its thick leaves are generally folded lengthwise, with basal leaves well developed and upper stem leaves 15 to 55 millimeters long, approximately lanceolate and entire. The flower's distinctive staminode is glabrous or has a minutely hairy tip, adding to its unique botanical character.

Habitat: Sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: 1200-1800 m

Bioregions: e DMtns (Kingston Range, New York Mtns)

California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo

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