List of Penstemon species
Species in the genus Penstemon are commonly called penstemons or beardtongues in English, and they will often have a common name based on either. As the subgenuses have some taxonomic uncertainty, the species are arranged alphabetically by name in the lists. As of 2024 there are 281 species and seven natural hybrids, according to Plants of the World Online (POWO).[1] The database World Flora Online (WFO) regards all the species listed by POWO as valid, but additionally lists two natural hybrids as species and four additional species as valid.[2]
Penstemon species
These 281 species of Penstemon are considered valid by both World Flora Online (WFO) and Plants of the World Online (POWO), with the exception of Penstemon grandiflorus.[1][2] In both POWO and WFO, it is regarded as a synonym of Penstemon bradburyi. However, P. grandiflorus continues to be widely used as the correct species name in North America, including by the Flora of North America and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS database (PLANTS).[3][4] It is listed as P. grandiflorus in the table with the synonym noted.
| Scientific name Authority |
Common names | Photo |
|---|---|---|
| Penstemon abietinus Pennell |
Firleaf beardtongue | |
| Penstemon absarokensis Evert |
Absaroka Range beardtongue | |
| Penstemon acaulis L.O.Williams |
stemless penstemon | |
| Penstemon acuminatus Douglas ex Lindl. |
sharpleaf penstemon | |
| Penstemon alamosensis Pennell & G.T.Nisbet |
Los Alamos beardtongue | |
| Penstemon albertinus Greene |
Alberta penstemon | |
| Penstemon albidus Nutt. |
white penstemon | |
| Penstemon albifluvis England |
White River penstemon | |
| Penstemon albomarginatus M.E.Jones |
white-margined penstemon | |
| Penstemon ambiguus Torr. |
bush penstemon |
|
| Penstemon ammophilus N.H.Holmgren & L.M.Schultz |
sandloving penstemon | |
| Penstemon amphorellae Crosswh. |
||
| Penstemon angelicus (I.M.Johnst.) Moran |
||
| Penstemon anguineus Eastw. |
Siskiyou penstemon | |
| Penstemon angustifolius Nutt. ex Pursh |
broadbeard beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon arenarius Greene |
Nevada sanddune beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon arenicola A.Nelson |
Red Desert penstemon | |
| Penstemon aridus Rydb. |
stiffleaf penstemon | |
| Penstemon arkansanus Pennell |
Arkansas beardtongue | |
| Penstemon atropurpureus (Sweet) G.Don |
||
| Penstemon attenuatus Douglas |
sulphur penstemon | |
| Penstemon atwoodii S.L.Welsh |
Kaiparowits beardtongue | |
| Penstemon auriberbis Pennell |
Colorado penstemon | |
| Penstemon australis Small |
Eustis Lake beardtongue | |
| Penstemon azureus Benth. |
azure penstemon | |
| Penstemon baccharifolius Hook. |
baccharisleaf beardtongue | |
| Penstemon barbatus (Cav.) Roth |
golden-beard penstemon |
|
| Penstemon barnebyi N.H.Holmgren |
Barneby's penstemon |
|
| Penstemon barrettiae A.Gray |
Barrett's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon bicolor (Brandegee) Clokey & D.D.Keck |
pinto beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon bleaklyi O'Kane & K.D.Heil |
bleakly penstemon | |
| Penstemon bolanius Straw |
||
| Penstemon bracteatus D.D.Keck |
Red Canyon beardtongue | |
| Penstemon breviculus (D.D.Keck) G.T.Nisbet & R.C.Jacks. |
shortstem beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon brevisepalus Pennell |
short-sepaled beardtongue | |
| Penstemon buckleyi Pennell |
buckley penstemon |
|
| Penstemon caesius A.Gray |
San Bernardino penstemon | |
| Penstemon caespitosus Nutt. ex A.Gray |
mat penstemon | |
| Penstemon calcareus Brandegee |
limestone penstemon | |
| Penstemon californicus (Munz & I.M.Johnst.) D.D.Keck |
California penstemon | |
| Penstemon calycosus Small |
longsepal beardtongue | |
| Penstemon campanulatus (Cav.) Willd. |
bellflower beardtongue | |
| Penstemon canescens Britton |
eastern gray beardtongue | |
| Penstemon cardinalis Wooton & Standl. |
cardinal beardtongue | |
| Penstemon cardwellii Howell |
Cardwell's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon carnosus Pennell |
fleshy beardtongue | |
| Penstemon caryi Pennell |
Cary's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon centranthifolius (Benth.) Benth. |
scarlet bugler | |
| Penstemon cerrosensis Kellogg |
Cedros island penstemon | |
| Penstemon cinicola D.D.Keck |
ash penstemon | |
| Penstemon clevelandii A.Gray |
Cleveland's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon clutei A.Nelson |
Sunset Crater beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon cobaea Nutt. |
cobaea beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon comarrhenus A.Gray |
dusty beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon concinnus D.D.Keck |
Tunnel Springs beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon confertus Douglas |
yellow penstemon | |
| Penstemon confusus M.E.Jones |
Owens Valley beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon crandallii A.Nelson |
Crandall's penstemon | |
| Penstemon curtiflorus (D.D.Keck) N.H.Holmgren |
||
| Penstemon cusickii A.Gray |
Cusick's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon cyananthus Hook. |
Wasatch beardtongue | |
| Penstemon cyaneus Pennell |
blue penstemon | |
| Penstemon cyanocaulis Payson |
bluestem beardtongue | |
| Penstemon cyathophorus Rydb. |
cupped penstemon |
|
| Penstemon dasyphyllus A.Gray |
Cochise beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon davidsonii Greene |
Davidson's penstemon |
|
| Penstemon deamii Pennell |
Deam's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon deaveri Crosswh. |
Mt. Graham beardtongue | |
| Penstemon debilis O'Kane & J.L.Anderson |
Parachute beardtongue | |
| Penstemon degeneri Crosswh. |
Degener's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon deustus Douglas ex Lindl. |
scabland penstemon | |
| Penstemon digitalis Nutt. ex Sims |
talus slope penstemon |
|
| Penstemon diphyllus Rydb. |
twoleaf beardtongue | |
| Penstemon discolor D.D.Keck |
Catalina beardtongue | |
| Penstemon dissectus Elliott |
dissected beardtongue | |
| Penstemon distans N.H.Holmgren |
Mt. Tumbull beardtongue | |
| Penstemon dolius M.E.Jones |
Jones's penstemon |
|
| Penstemon dugesii Pérez-Calix & Zacarías |
||
| Penstemon duchesnensis (N.H.Holmgren) Neese |
Duchesne penstemon | |
| Penstemon eatonii A.Gray |
Eaton's penstemon |
|
| Penstemon elegantulus Pennell |
rockvine penstemon | |
| Penstemon ellipticus J.M.Coult. & Fisher |
eggleaf penstemon |
|
| Penstemon eriantherus Nutt. ex Pursh |
fuzzytongue penstemon | |
| Penstemon euglaucus English |
glaucous beardtongue | |
| Penstemon eximius D.D.Keck |
extrodinary penstemon |
|
| Penstemon fasciculatus A.Gray |
||
| Penstemon fendleri Torr. & A.Gray |
fendler penstemon | |
| Penstemon filiformis (D.D.Keck) D.D.Keck |
threadleaf beardtongue | |
| Penstemon filisepalis Straw |
||
| Penstemon flavescens Pennell |
high mountain penstemon | |
| Penstemon floribundus Danley |
Cordillia's penstemon | |
| Penstemon floridus Brandegee |
Panamint beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon flowersii Neese & S.L.Welsh |
Flowers' beardtongue | |
| Penstemon franklinii S.L.Welsh |
Franklin's penstemon | |
| Penstemon fremontii Torr. & A.Gray |
Fremont penstemon | |
| Penstemon fruticiformis Coville |
Death Valley penstemon | |
| Penstemon fruticosus (Pursh) Greene |
Greene bush penstemon | |
| Penstemon gairdneri Hook. |
Gairdner's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon galloensis G.L.Nesom |
||
| Penstemon gentianoides (Kunth) Poir. |
gentian penstemon | |
| Penstemon gentryi Standl. |
||
| Penstemon gibbensii Dorn |
Gibbens' beardtongue | |
| Penstemon glaber Pursh |
sawsepal penstemon | |
| Penstemon glandulosus Douglas ex Lindl. |
stickystem penstemon | |
| Penstemon glaucinus Pennell |
blueleaf beardtongue | |
| Penstemon globosus (Piper) Pennell & D.D.Keck |
globe penstemon | |
| Penstemon goodrichii N.H.Holmgren |
Lapoint penstemon | |
| Penstemon gormanii Greene |
Gorman's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon gracilentus A.Gray |
slender penstemon | |
| Penstemon gracilis Nutt. |
lilac penstemon |
|
|
Penstemon grandiflorus |
large flower penstemon |
|
| Penstemon grahamii D.D.Keck |
Uinta Basin beardtongue | |
| Penstemon griffinii A.Nelson |
Griffin's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon grinnellii Eastw. |
Grinnell's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon guadalupensis A.Heller |
Guadalupe beardtongue | |
| Penstemon hallii A.Gray |
Hall's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon harbourii A.Gray |
Harbour's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon harringtonii Penland |
Harrington's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon hartwegii Benth. |
Hartweg's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon havardii A.Gray |
Big Bend beardtongue | |
| Penstemon haydenii S.Watson ex J.M.Coult. |
blowout beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon henricksonii Straw |
||
| Penstemon hesperius M.E.Peck |
tall western penstemon | |
| Penstemon heterodoxus A.Gray |
Sierra beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon heterophyllus Lindl. |
bunchleaf penstemon | |
| Penstemon hidalgensis Straw |
||
| Penstemon hirsutus (L.) Willd. |
hairy beardtongue | |
| Penstemon humilis Nutt. ex A.Gray |
low beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon idahoensis N.D.Atwood & S.L.Welsh |
Idaho penstemon | |
| Penstemon imberbis (Kunth) Trautv. |
||
| Penstemon immanifestus N.H.Holmgren |
Steptoe Valley beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon incertus Brandegee |
Mojave beardtongue | |
| Penstemon inflatus Crosswh. |
inflated beardtongue | |
| Penstemon isophyllus B.L.Rob. |
equal-leaved penstemon | |
| Penstemon jamesii Benth. |
James penstemon |
|
| Penstemon janishiae N.H.Holmgren |
Antelope Valley beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon kingii S.Watson |
King's beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon kralii D.Estes |
||
| Penstemon labrosus (A.Gray) Mast. ex Hook.f. |
San Gabriel beardtongue | |
| Penstemon laetus A.Gray |
mountain blue penstemon | |
| Penstemon laevigatus Aiton |
eastern smooth beardtongue | |
| Penstemon laevis Pennell |
southwestern beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon lanceolatus Benth. |
lanceleaf penstemon | |
| Penstemon laricifolius Hook. & Arn. |
larchleaf beardtongue | |
| Penstemon laxiflorus Pennell |
nodding beardtongue | |
| Penstemon laxus A.Nelson |
tufted penstemon | |
| Penstemon leiophyllus Pennell |
smoothleaf beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon lemhiensis (D.D.Keck) D.D.Keck & Cronquist |
Lemhi penstemon | |
| Penstemon lentus Pennell |
handsome beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon leonardii Rydb. |
Leonard's beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon leonensis Straw |
||
| Penstemon linarioides A.Gray |
creeping penstemon |
|
| Penstemon longiflorus (Pennell) S.L.Clark |
longflower penstemon | |
| Penstemon luteus G.L.Nesom |
||
| Penstemon lyallii (A.Gray) A.Gray |
Lyall's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon marcusii (D.D.Keck) N.H.Holmgren |
Marcus' beardtongue | |
| Penstemon mensarum Pennell |
tiger beardtongue | |
| Penstemon metcalfei Wooton & Standl. |
Metcalfe's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon miniatus Lindl. |
||
| Penstemon miser A.Gray |
Malheur penstemon | |
| Penstemon moffatii Eastw. |
Moffatt's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon mohinoranus Straw |
Cerro Mohinora penstemon | |
| Penstemon monoensis A.Heller |
Mono penstemon | |
| Penstemon montanus Greene |
cordroot beardtongue | |
| Penstemon moriahensis N.H.Holmgren |
Mount Moriah penstemon |
|
| Penstemon mucronatus N.H.Holmgren |
mucronate penstemon | |
| Penstemon multiflorus (Benth.) Chapm. ex Small |
manyflower beardtongue | |
| Penstemon murrayanus Hook. |
scarlet beardtongue | |
| Penstemon nanus D.D.Keck |
dwarf beardtongue | |
| Penstemon navajoa N.H.Holmgren |
Navajo Mountain beardtongue | |
| Penstemon neomexicanus Wooton & Standl. |
New Mexico beardtongue | |
| Penstemon neotericus D.D.Keck |
Plumas County beardtongue | |
| Penstemon newberryi A.Gray |
mountain pride |
|
| Penstemon nitidus Douglas ex Benth. |
waxleaf penstemon | |
| Penstemon nudiflorus A.Gray |
Flagstaff beardtongue | |
| Penstemon occiduus Straw |
||
| Penstemon oklahomensis Pennell |
Oklahoma beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon oliganthus Wooton & Standl. |
Apache beardtongue | |
| Penstemon ophianthus Pennell |
Arizona beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon osterhoutii Pennell |
Osterhout's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon ovatus Douglas |
eggleaf beardtongue | |
| Penstemon pachyphyllus A.Gray ex Rydb. |
thickleaf beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon pahutensis N.H.Holmgren |
Pahute penstemon |
|
| Penstemon pallidus Small |
pale beardtongue | |
| Penstemon palmeri A.Gray |
Palmer's penstemon |
|
| Penstemon papillatus J.T.Howell |
Inyo beardtongue | |
| Penstemon parryi A.Gray |
Gray Parry penstemon |
|
| Penstemon parvulus (A.Gray) Krautter |
Aquarius Plateau beardtongue | |
| Penstemon parvus Pennell |
Aquarius Plateau penstemon | |
| Penstemon patens (M.E.Jones) N.H.Holmgren |
Lone Pine beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon payettensis A.Nelson & J.F.Macbr. |
Payette beardtongue | |
| Penstemon paysoniorum D.D.Keck |
Payson's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon peckii Pennell |
Peck's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon penlandii W.A.Weber |
Kremling beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon pennellianus D.D.Keck |
Blue Mountain beardtongue | |
| Penstemon perfoliatus Al.Brongn. |
||
| Penstemon perpulcher A.Nelson |
Minidoka beardtongue | |
| Penstemon personatus D.D.Keck |
closethroat beardtongue | |
| Penstemon petiolatus Brandegee |
lime penstemon |
|
| Penstemon pinifolius Greene |
pineneedle beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon pinorum L.M.Shultz & J.S.Shultz |
Pine Valley penstemon | |
| Penstemon plagapineus Straw |
pine-land penstemon | |
| Penstemon platyphyllus Rydb. |
broadleaf beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon potosinus Straw |
San Luis Potosi penstemon | |
| Penstemon pratensis Greene |
whiteflower beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon procerus Douglas ex Graham |
littleflower penstemon |
|
| Penstemon pruinosus Douglas |
Chelan beardtongue | |
| Penstemon pseudoparvus Crosswh. |
Mt. Washington beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon pseudoputus (Crosswh.) N.H.Holmgren |
Kaibab Plateau beardtongue | |
| Penstemon pseudospectabilis M.E.Jones |
desert penstemon | |
| Penstemon pudicus Reveal & Beatley |
bashful penstemon |
|
| Penstemon pumilus Nutt. |
Salmon River beardtongue | |
| Penstemon punctatus Brandegee |
||
| Penstemon purpusii Brandegee |
Snow Mountain beardtongue | |
| Penstemon putus A.Nelson |
Black River beardtongue | |
| Penstemon radicosus A.Nelson |
matroot penstemon | |
| Penstemon rattanii A.Gray |
Rattan's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon reidmoranii Zacarías & A.Wolfe |
Reid Moran's penstemon | |
| Penstemon retrorsus Payson |
Adobe Hills penstemon | |
| Penstemon rhizomatosus N.H.Holmgren |
Schell Creek penstemon | |
| Penstemon richardsonii Douglas ex Lindl. |
cutleaf beardtongue | |
| Penstemon roezlii Regel |
Roezl's penstemon | |
| Penstemon roseus (Cerv. ex Sweet) G.Don |
pinto penstemon | |
| Penstemon rostriflorus Kellogg |
beaked beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon rotundifolius A.Gray |
roundleaf penstemon | |
| Penstemon rubicundus D.D.Keck |
Wassuck penstemon |
|
| Penstemon rupicola (Piper) Howell |
cliff beardtongue | |
| Penstemon rydbergii A.Nelson |
meadow beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon salmonensis N.H.Holmgren |
||
| Penstemon saltarius Crosswh. |
||
| Penstemon saxosorum Pennell |
upland beardtongue | |
| Penstemon scapoides D.D.Keck |
pinyon beardtongue | |
| Penstemon scariosus Pennell |
White River beardtongue | |
| Penstemon schaffneri (Hemsl.) Straw |
jarritos penstemon | |
| Penstemon secundiflorus Benth. |
sidebells penstemon | |
| Penstemon seorsus (A.Nelson) D.D.Keck |
shortlobe penstemon | |
| Penstemon sepalulus A.Nelson |
littlecup beardtongue | |
| Penstemon serrulatus Menzies ex Sm. |
serrulate penstemon | |
| Penstemon smallii A.Heller |
Small's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon spatulatus Pennell |
Wallowa penstemon | |
| Penstemon speciosus Douglas |
royal penstemon | |
| Penstemon spectabilis Thurb. ex A.Gray |
showy penstemon | |
| Penstemon stenophyllus A.Gray |
Sonoran beardtongue | |
| Penstemon stephensii Brandegee |
Stephens' penstemon | |
| Penstemon strictiformis Rydb. |
Mancos penstemon |
|
| Penstemon strictus Benth. |
Rocky Mountain beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon subglaber Rydb. |
smooth penstemon | |
| Penstemon subserratus Pennell |
finetooth beardtongue | |
| Penstemon subulatus M.E.Jones |
hackberry beardtongue | |
| Penstemon sudans M.E.Jones |
Susanville beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon superbus A.Nelson |
superb beardtongue | |
| Penstemon tenuiflorus Pennell |
eastern whiteflower beardtongue | |
| Penstemon tenuifolius Benth. |
||
| Penstemon tenuis Small |
sharpsepal beardtongue | |
| Penstemon tepicensis Straw |
||
| Penstemon teucrioides Greene |
germander beardtongue | |
| Penstemon thompsoniae (A.Gray) Rydb. |
Thompson's penstemon |
|
| Penstemon thurberi Torr. |
Thurber's penstemon |
|
| Penstemon tidestromii Pennell |
Tidestrom's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon tiehmii N.H.Holmgren |
Tiehm's penstemon | |
| Penstemon tracyi D.D.Keck |
Trinity penstemon | |
| Penstemon triflorus A.Heller |
Heller's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon triphyllus Douglas |
Riggin's penstemon | |
| Penstemon tubaeflorus Nutt. |
white wand beardtongue | |
| Penstemon uintahensis Pennell |
Uinta Mountain beardtongue | |
| Penstemon utahensis Eastw. |
Utah penstemon | |
| Penstemon venustus Douglas |
Venus penstemon | |
| Penstemon virens Pennell ex Rydb. |
Front Range beardtongue | |
| Penstemon virgatus A.Gray |
upright blue beardtongue | |
| Penstemon vizcainensis Moran |
||
| Penstemon vulcanellus Crosswh. |
||
| Penstemon wardii A.Gray |
Ward's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon washingtonensis D.D.Keck |
Washington beardtongue | |
| Penstemon watsonii A.Gray |
Watson's penstemon |
|
| Penstemon wendtiorum B.L.Turner[5] |
||
| Penstemon whippleanus A.Gray |
dark penstemon |
|
| Penstemon wilcoxii Rydb. |
Wilcox's penstemon | |
| Penstemon wislizeni (A.Gray) Straw |
||
| Penstemon wrightii Hook. |
Wright's beardtongue | |
| Penstemon xylus A.Nelson |
Tushar Bluemat Penstemon | |
| Penstemon yampaensis Penland |
Yampa penstemon |
Penstemon natural hybrids
As of 2024 these seven naturally occurring hybrids are valid, according to POWO.[1] Two are considered valid species, according to WFO.[2]
| Scientific name Authority |
Common names | Photo |
|---|---|---|
| Penstemon × crideri A.Nelson |
Crider penstemon |
|
| Penstemon × dubius Davidson |
dubius penstemon | |
|
Penstemon × jonesii |
Jones' penstemon | |
| Penstemon × mirus A.Nelson |
||
|
Penstemon × moronensis |
||
| Penstemon × parishii A.Gray |
||
| Penstemon × peirsonii Munz & I.M.Johnst. |
Additional Penstemon species
These four species are listed as accepted by World Flora Online, but are not accepted by Plants of the World Online.[2]
| Scientific name Authority |
Common names | Photo |
|---|---|---|
| Penstemon brevibarbatus Crosswhite |
||
| Penstemon compactus (D.D.Keck) Crosswh. |
cache beardtongue |
|
| Penstemon jaliscensis B.L.Rob. |
||
| Penstemon minutifolius Straw |
References
- ^ a b c "Penstemon Schmidel". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Penstemon Schmidel". World Flora Online. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ^ Freeman, Craig C. (5 November 2020). "Penstemon grandiflorus - FNA". Flora of North America. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ NRCS (27 March 2024), "Penstemon grandiflorus", PLANTS Database, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- ^ Turner, B. L. (2010). Taxonomy of the Penstemon campanulatus complex (Scrophulariaceae) and description of a new species from its midst. Phytoneuron 31 1–5.