Penstemon
beardtongue, penstemon
30 species
20 subspecies and varieties
20 subspecies and varieties
Show only taxa with photos
Order by:
Scientific name
Common name
Display as:
Penstemon acuminatus – sand dune penstemon, sharp-leaved penstemon
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest from Chelan and Douglas counties south along the Columbia River to Klickitat County; central Washington to north-central Oregon, also from southeastern Oregon to northern Nevada, east to southwestern Idaho.
Habitat: Dry, open, sandy places at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest from Chelan and Douglas counties south along the Columbia River to Klickitat County; central Washington to north-central Oregon, also from southeastern Oregon to northern Nevada, east to southwestern Idaho.
Habitat: Dry, open, sandy places at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. acuminatus – sand dune beardtongue, sand dune penstemon, sharp-leaved penstemon
Penstemon attenuatus – taper-leaved beardtongue, sulphur penstemon, taper-leaved penstemon
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; southeastern British Columbia to northeastern Oregon, east to western Montana and Wyoming.
Habitat: Dry to moist meadows and woodland slopes from the lowlands to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; southeastern British Columbia to northeastern Oregon, east to western Montana and Wyoming.
Habitat: Dry to moist meadows and woodland slopes from the lowlands to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. attenuatus – taper-leaved beardtongue, sulphur penstemon, taper-leaved penstemon
Penstemon barrettiae – Barrett's beardtongue
Distribution: Occurring in the east end of the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; south-central Washington to adjacent north-central Oregon.
Habitat: Woodland openings and rocky slopes at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-May
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring in the east end of the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; south-central Washington to adjacent north-central Oregon.
Habitat: Woodland openings and rocky slopes at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-May
Growth Duration: Perennial
Penstemon cardwellii – Cardwell's beardtongue
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern Washington to southwestern Oregon.
Habitat: Open or wooded summits or slopes at middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern Washington to southwestern Oregon.
Habitat: Open or wooded summits or slopes at middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Penstemon cinereus – gray beardtongue
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; central Washington to northeastern California and northwestern Nevada.
Habitat: Open areas at low to middle elevations in loamy or igneous rocky or gravelly soils.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; central Washington to northeastern California and northwestern Nevada.
Habitat: Open areas at low to middle elevations in loamy or igneous rocky or gravelly soils.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
• ssp. cinereus – gray beardtongue
• ssp. foliatus – leafy gray beardtongue
Penstemon confertus – lesser yellow beardtongue
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Oregon, east to Alberta, Idaho and Montana.
Habitat: Coniferous forest openings and open slopes from low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Oregon, east to Alberta, Idaho and Montana.
Habitat: Coniferous forest openings and open slopes from low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Penstemon davidsonii – Davidson's penstemon
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California and Nevada.
Habitat: Open, rocky areas, from middle to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California and Nevada.
Habitat: Open, rocky areas, from middle to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. davidsonii – Davidson's beardtongue
• var. menziesii – Davidson's beardtongue
Penstemon deustus – hot-rock penstemon
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Montana and Utah.
Habitat: Open rocky roadsides, hillsides, and rock outcrops, sometimes in dry meadows, lowland to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Montana and Utah.
Habitat: Open rocky roadsides, hillsides, and rock outcrops, sometimes in dry meadows, lowland to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. deustus – hot-rock penstemon
• var. variabilis – hotrock penstemon, scabland penstemon, scorched penstemon
Penstemon ellipticus – rockvine beardtongue
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington; southeastern British Columbia to northeastern Washington, east to Alberta and Montana.
Habitat: Rocky places at high elevations in the mountains, often on cliffs, ledges, or in rock crevices.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington; southeastern British Columbia to northeastern Washington, east to Alberta and Montana.
Habitat: Rocky places at high elevations in the mountains, often on cliffs, ledges, or in rock crevices.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Penstemon eriantherus – crested-tongue penstemon, fuzzy-tongue penstemon
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest chiefly in central and northeastern Washington; southeastern British Columbia to Oregon, east to the northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Dry, open places in the valleys, plains and foothills, sometimes ascending to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest chiefly in central and northeastern Washington; southeastern British Columbia to Oregon, east to the northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Dry, open places in the valleys, plains and foothills, sometimes ascending to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. eriantherus – fuzzy-tongue penstemon
• var. whitedii – Whited's fuzzy-tongue penstemon
Penstemon euglaucus – glaucous beardtongue
Distribution: Occurring in the Cascades Range in Washington from Mt Adams south; Washington to central Oregon.
Habitat: Dry, sandy, open or sparsely wooded slopes at moderate elevations to subalpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring in the Cascades Range in Washington from Mt Adams south; Washington to central Oregon.
Habitat: Dry, sandy, open or sparsely wooded slopes at moderate elevations to subalpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Penstemon fruticosus – bush penstemon, shrubby penstemon
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Oregon, east to Alberta, Montana and Wyoming.
Habitat: Common in rocky, open or wooded areas, foothills to rather high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Oregon, east to Alberta, Montana and Wyoming.
Habitat: Common in rocky, open or wooded areas, foothills to rather high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. fruticosus – shrubby penstemon
• var. scouleri – shrubby penstemon
• var. serratus – shrubby penstemon
Penstemon gairdneri – Gairdner's penstemon
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to Oregon, east to Idaho.
Habitat: Dry, open sagebrush desert and scablands, low to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to Oregon, east to Idaho.
Habitat: Dry, open sagebrush desert and scablands, low to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. gairdneri – Gairdner's penstemon
Penstemon glandulosus – glandular penstemon
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; central Washington to north-central Oregon, and from southeastern Washington to eastern Oregon, east to Idaho.
Habitat: Open, often rocky hillsides and banks in the foothills, valleys, and lower mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; central Washington to north-central Oregon, and from southeastern Washington to eastern Oregon, east to Idaho.
Habitat: Open, often rocky hillsides and banks in the foothills, valleys, and lower mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. chelanensis – sticky-stem penstemon
• var. glandulosus – sticky-stem penstemon
Penstemon hesperius – tall beardtongue
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in southwestern Washington; narrowly distributed from southwestern Washington to northwestern Oregon.
Habitat: Moist, lowland meadows and stream banks.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in southwestern Washington; narrowly distributed from southwestern Washington to northwestern Oregon.
Habitat: Moist, lowland meadows and stream banks.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Penstemon lyallii – Lyall's penstemon
Distribution: Reported from east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington, but no specimens seen; southeastern British Columbia to northeastern Washington, east to Alberta, northern Idaho, and western Montana.
Habitat: Rocky slopes, talus, and rock outcrops.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Reported from east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington, but no specimens seen; southeastern British Columbia to northeastern Washington, east to Alberta, northern Idaho, and western Montana.
Habitat: Rocky slopes, talus, and rock outcrops.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Penstemon ovatus – egg-leaf beardtongue, broad-leaved penstemon
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to Oregon.
Habitat: Open woods below 3000 feet in elevation.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to Oregon.
Habitat: Open woods below 3000 feet in elevation.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Penstemon pennellianus – Blue Mountains beardtongue, Pennell's beardtongue
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in the Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington; southeastern Washington to the Blue Mountains in adjacent northeastern Oregon.
Habitat: Open, gravelly and sandy slopes and ridges, sometimes associated with ponderosa pine forest openings, at middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in the Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington; southeastern Washington to the Blue Mountains in adjacent northeastern Oregon.
Habitat: Open, gravelly and sandy slopes and ridges, sometimes associated with ponderosa pine forest openings, at middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Penstemon procerus – small-flowered penstemon
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Moist forest openings at moderate elevations to rocky slopes at high elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Moist forest openings at moderate elevations to rocky slopes at high elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. procerus – small-flowered penstemon
• var. tolmiei – small-flowered penstemon
Penstemon pruinosus – Chelan beardtongue
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Washington.
Habitat: Open, rocky places from the valleys and plains to moderate elevations in the mountains, and in the scablands in Washington.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Washington.
Habitat: Open, rocky places from the valleys and plains to moderate elevations in the mountains, and in the scablands in Washington.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Penstemon richardsonii – Richardson's penstemon
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to north-central and northeast Oregon.
Habitat: Cliff crevices and other dry, rocky places at low to moderate elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to north-central and northeast Oregon.
Habitat: Cliff crevices and other dry, rocky places at low to moderate elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. richardsonii – Richardson's penstemon
Penstemon rupicola – cliff beardtongue, rock penstemon
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest and in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; Washington to California.
Habitat: Rock cliffs and rocky slopes from middle elevations in the mountains to the alpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest and in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; Washington to California.
Habitat: Rock cliffs and rocky slopes from middle elevations in the mountains to the alpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Penstemon rydbergii – Rydberg's beardtongue
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades in Washington; Washington to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Meadows and moist, open slopes, occasionally on drier slopes with sagebrush, chiefly in the foothills and at moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades in Washington; Washington to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Meadows and moist, open slopes, occasionally on drier slopes with sagebrush, chiefly in the foothills and at moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Penstemon serrulatus – Cascade beardtongue, coast penstemon
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest and in the Olympic Mountains in Washington; southern British Columbia to Oregon.
Habitat: Moist to wet meadows and forest openings, from low elevations to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest and in the Olympic Mountains in Washington; southern British Columbia to Oregon.
Habitat: Moist to wet meadows and forest openings, from low elevations to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Penstemon speciosus – royal beardtongue, showy penstemon
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Nevada and Utah.
Habitat: Dry, open or sparsely wooded areas, often with sagebrush, juniper or ponderosa pine, mostly in the lowlands and foothills.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Nevada and Utah.
Habitat: Dry, open or sparsely wooded areas, often with sagebrush, juniper or ponderosa pine, mostly in the lowlands and foothills.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Penstemon subserratus – fine-toothed beardtongue, subserrate beardtongue
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; north-central Washington to north-central Oregon.
Habitat: Open ponderosa pine forest and clearings at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; north-central Washington to north-central Oregon.
Habitat: Open ponderosa pine forest and clearings at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Penstemon triphyllus – whorled beardtongue
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in the southeastern area of Washington; Southeast Washington south to adjacent Oregon and east to adjacent Idaho.
Habitat: Cliff crevices and dry, rocky banks and slopes at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in the southeastern area of Washington; Southeast Washington south to adjacent Oregon and east to adjacent Idaho.
Habitat: Cliff crevices and dry, rocky banks and slopes at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. triphyllus – whorled beardtongue, whorled penstemon
Penstemon venustus – elegant beardtongue, Blue Mountain penstemon
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington, where introduced in central Washington and native to the Blue Mountains region in southeastern Washington; Washington to California, east to Idaho and Utah.
Habitat: Open, rocky slopes, from the foothills to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native and Introduced
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington, where introduced in central Washington and native to the Blue Mountains region in southeastern Washington; Washington to California, east to Idaho and Utah.
Habitat: Open, rocky slopes, from the foothills to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native and Introduced
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Penstemon washingtonensis – Washington beardtongue
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest, where endemic to Chelan and Okanogan in Washington.
Habitat: From open slopes and flats at moderate elevations to alpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest, where endemic to Chelan and Okanogan in Washington.
Habitat: From open slopes and flats at moderate elevations to alpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Penstemon wilcoxii – Wilcox's beardtongue
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in eastern Washington; Washington to Oregon, east to Montana.
Habitat: Open or often wooded, sometimes in rocky places, from the foothills to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in eastern Washington; Washington to Oregon, east to Montana.
Habitat: Open or often wooded, sometimes in rocky places, from the foothills to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
