Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Penstemon fruticiformis is a species of penstemon known by the common name Death Valley beardtongue. It is native to the deserts and nearby mountains of eastern California and western Nevada, where it grows in rocky scrub and woodland habitat. It is known from scattered occurrences around Death Valley, and only one of the two varieties occurs on the Nevada side of the border. It is a perennial herb producing spreading, multibranched, hairless and waxy stems 30 to 60 centimeters tall. The thick leaves are generally lance-shaped, folded and rolled, and up to 6.5 centimeters in length. The flower cluster produces several white or pale pinkish-lavender flowers between 2 and 3 centimeters long. The mouth of the flower bears a stark, dark line on each of its three lower lobes, nectar guides for its pollinators which probably include native bumble bees.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

1 - 2 ft Tall

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Color

Lavender, Pink, White

Flowering season

Spring

Special uses

Containers

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Low

Ease of care

Moderate

Soil drainage

Fast

Site type

Gravelly washes and canyon floors

Plant communities

Creosote Bush Scrub, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland

Hummingbirds
Bees
Butterflies

Pollinators supported

2 confirmed and 161 likely

  • Likely

  • Confirmed

Atoposmia triodonta

Morrison's Bumble Bee

Bombus morrisoni

Angelic Sweat Bee

Agapostemon angelicus

Wide-legged Sweat Bee

Agapostemon femoratus

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Peppers

Capsicum annuum

Chicory

Cichorium intybus

Coffee

Coffea

Cucumbers

Cucumis sativus