Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Penstemon clevelandii is a species in the Plantaginaceae (Plantain) family known by the common name Cleveland's Beardtongue. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in mountain and desert habitat such as scrub, woodland, and chaparral. It is found primarily on the eastern slope of the Peninsular Range. It is a perennial herb with upright, branching stems 70 centimeters in maximum height. The thick leaves are oval in shape, sometimes toothed, 2-6 centimeters in length, and sometimes clasping or encircling the stem. The flower cluster produces tubular flowers with expanded, lipped mouths. The flower is pink to magenta in color, up to 2.4 centimeters in length, and somewhat hairy on the outer surface. The flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. Overall this is a very attractive, hardy plant for inland southern gardens.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

1 - 2 ft Tall
2 ft Wide

Growth rate

Moderate

Dormancy

Evergreen

Calscape icon
Color

Pink

Flowering season

Spring

Special uses

Containers, Deer resistant

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Low

Summer irrigation

Max 1x / month once established

Ease of care

Moderate

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to 25° F

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

prefers fast draining soil such as sand or decomposed granite.
Soil PH: 6.5 - 7.5

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Site type

Rocky hillsides, rock crevices, arid inland valleys between 1, 000 and 7, 000 ft.

Plant communities

Chaparral, Creosote Bush Scrub, Joshua Tree Woodland

Use with other plants of hot inland valleys or desert transition, including Indian Mallow (Abutilon palmeri), Copperleaf (Acalypha californica), Desert Agave (Agave deserti), Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spl.), Parish's Viguiera (Bahiopsis parishii), Ceanothus spp., Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata), Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia) and various cactus species

Hummingbirds
Birds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 10 likely

Confirmed Likely

Geranium Plume Moth

Amblyptilia pica

Archirhoe neomexicana

Verbena Bud Moth

Endothenia hebesana

Anicia Checkerspot

Euphydryas anicia