Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Keckiella breviflora (formerly Penstemon breviflorus) is a species of flowering shrub in the Plantagnaceae (Plantain) family known by the common name Gaping Keckiella. It is native to many of the mountain ranges and foothills of central California, and its range extends just into Nevada. This is a branching, bushy shrub with many thin stems, approaching a maximum height near two meters. Its shiny green leaves are arranged oppositely on the branches, and each is one to four centimeters long, generally lance-shaped and finely serrated or smooth along the edges. The shrub produces tall flower clusters which are loose, hairy spikes of flowers. Each flower is one to two centimeters wide with five pale pink or pinkish-streaked white lobes whose external surfaces have long, shiny hairs. The three lower lobes curl outward from the mouth and under, and the two upper lobes are joined into a lip that curves forward over the mouth. Within the mouth are long stamen filaments bearing anthers, and a flat, hairless, sterile stamen called a staminode.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

4 - 7 ft Tall
7 ft Wide

Calscape icon
Color

Cream, Pink

Flowering season

Spring, Summer

Special uses

Deer resistant

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Low, Very Low

Summer irrigation

Max 1x / week once established

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to -10° F

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Tolerates a variety of soils as long as adequate drainage is provided.
Soil PH: 5.3 - 6.9

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Site type

Rocky slopes of the Coast Ranges and Sierras up to 7, 000 ft.

Plant communities

Chaparral, Foothill Woodland, Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Subalpine Forest, Valley Grassland, Yellow Pine Forest

Use with other shrubs of the mountains such as Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), Oregon Grape (Berberis aquifolium), Spice Bush (Calycanthus occidentalis), Ceanothus spp., Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides or ledifolius), Dogwood (Cornus spp.), California Flannelbush (Fremontodendron californicum), Silk Tassel Bush (Garrya flavescens or fremontii), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), and Currant/Gooseberry (Ribes spp.)

Hummingbirds
Bats
Birds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 19 likely

Confirmed Likely

Geranium Plume Moth

Amblyptilia pica

Archirhoe neomexicana

Verbena Bud Moth

Endothenia hebesana

Anicia Checkerspot

Euphydryas anicia