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Cressler, Alan

Penstemon rostriflorus

Penstemon rostriflorus Kellogg

Bridge's Penstemon, Bridge's Beardtongue, Beaked Penstemon, Beaked Beardtongue, Mountain Scarlet Penstemon, Mountain Scarlet Beardtongue

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

Synonym(s): Penstemon bridgesii, Penstemon bridgesii var. amplexicaulis

USDA Symbol: PERO10

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

The low, much-branched, sub-woody base of beaked beardtongue or Bridge�s penstemon sends up 2-3 ft. stems which bear narrowly spoon-shaped, yellow-green leaves and large, conspicuously two-lipped, scarlet-red flowers.

This penstemon thrives in areas with cooler summer temperatures and some summer water.

From the Image Gallery

1 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Orange , Yellow
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: Orangish red to scarlet, throat usually yellowish or orangish.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , NM , NV , UT
Native Distribution: S.w. CO & w. NM, w. to CA Sierras
Native Habitat: Dry slopes in pinyon & ponderosa pine forests; 4500 to 10,000 ft.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Rocky or sandy soils.
Conditions Comments: Likes cooler summer temps and some summer water.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Propagate using half-woody cuttings or seed.
Seed Treatment: Germination is best with cold-moist stratification.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 36 - Jepson eFlora (2019) The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley

Additional resources

USDA: Find Penstemon rostriflorus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Penstemon rostriflorus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Penstemon rostriflorus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-22
Research By: TWC Staff

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