Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Keckiella corymbosa (formerly Penstemon corymbosus) is a species of flowering shrub in the plantain family known by the common name penstemon, or keckiella. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the coastal mountain forests of the central and northern regions of the state. This is a narrow, erect keckiella, reaching up to about half a meter tall and less than a meter in width. Its spreading branches have oppositely-arranged pairs of narrowly oval-shaped leaves one to three centimeters long and with smooth or vaguely toothed edges. The plant produces flower clusters on hairy pedicels with many flowers. Each flower is tubular opening into a wide mouth with three narrow, pointed lower lobes and two upper lobes joined into a straight flap or curving lip. The flower is up to 4 centimeters wide and 3 long, and is bright red to orange red or deep pink. Inside the mouth are long filamentous stamens and one flat, yellow-hairy sterile stamen called a staminode.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

1 - 2 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Red

Flowering season

Summer, Fall

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade, Deep Shade

Water

Very Low

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Sunset Zones

7, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

Site type

Rocky slopes

Plant communities

Mixed Evergreen Forest, Forest, Yellow Pine Forest

Hummingbirds
Birds
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 2 likely

Confirmed Likely

Variable Checkerspot

Euphydryas chalcedona

Sympistis singularis