Penstemon venustus
Venus penstemon
(c) Brian Finzel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Penstemon venustus (Venus penstemon) is a non-native California shrub in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by non-native shrub with sharply serrate leaves and white-hairy stamens.
Venus penstemon is a naturalized shrub found in southern Cascade Range highlands, specifically in southwestern Lassen County, growing in dry, rocky, exposed places at elevations of 900 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces lavender to purple flowers approximately 22 to 38 millimeters long with finely ciliate corolla lobes. Growing 30 to 80 centimeters tall with a spreading form, it has a generally glabrous or slightly short-hairy stem structure. Its stiff cauline leaves are lanceolate, sharply serrate, and reach up to 120 millimeters long at mid-stem, with distinctive white-hairy filaments and anther margins. The flower's staminode is also long white-hairy, adding to its unique visual character.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; non-native shrub with sharply serrate leaves and white-hairy stamens
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, rocky, exposed places
Elevation: 900-2200 m
California counties: San Diego, Lassen, Napa
Outside California: native to Oregon, Washington, Idaho
Bloom period
Penstemon venustus blooms Jul-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 venustus native to California?
No. Penstemon venustus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Penstemon venustus bloom?
Penstemon venustus blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Penstemon venustus grow?
Penstemon venustus occurs in San Diego, Lassen, Napa, at elevations of 900-2200 m.
What plant family does Penstemon venustus belong to?
Penstemon venustus is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Penstemon.
What habitat does Penstemon venustus grow in?
Penstemon venustus grows in Dry, rocky, exposed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Penstemon albomarginatus — White-margined beardtongue
- Penstemon anguineus — Siskiyou beardtongue
- Penstemon azureus — Azure penstemon
- Penstemon azureus var. angustissimus — Azure penstemon
- Penstemon azureus var. azureus — Azure penstemon
- Penstemon barnebyi — Barneby's beardtongue
- Plantaginaceae sp. — Plantain family
- Plantago arenaria — Indian plantain
- Plantago aristata — Bristly plantain
- Plantago coronopus — Buckhorn plantain
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.