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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Penstemon labrosus

Penstemon labrosus (A. Gray) Hook. f.

San Gabriel Penstemon, San Gabriel Beardtongue, Southern Scarlet Penstemon, Southern Scarlet Beardtongue

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: PELA6

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

With the smallest leaf mass of any penstemon, this plant’s leaves lay on the ground and blend in with the pine needles. The flowering stalks are 2 1/2 ft. tall and bear a series of strongly two-lipped, usually bright-red flowers.

 

From the Image Gallery

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 30 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Orange , Yellow
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: Red to scarlet or orange, rarely yellow.

Distribution

USA: CA
Native Distribution: S. from the mts. of Ventura to San Diego Cos., CA
Native Habitat: Fairly dry, wooded slopes & benches; 5000-10,000 ft.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Description: Well-drained soils.
Conditions Comments: Needs about 12-15 in. of precipitation per year. This is an easy plant to grow. It is garden-, cold- and shade-tolerant.

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.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Tohono Chul Park, Inc. - Tucson, AZ

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 37 - Calscape (2019) California Native Plant Society
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

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

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