Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Penstemon caesius is a species of penstemon known by the common name San Bernardino beardtongue. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains, as well as the southern mountains of the Sierra Nevada. It is a member of the flora on rocky slopes and in coniferous forests and alpine habitat in the mountains. It is a perennial herb with erect branches up to about 80 centimeters in maximum height. The lower branches may be woody, the upper hairless and waxy, and the flower cluster hairy. Most of the leaves are basal on the plant, rounded or oval, and up to about 4 centimeters long. The flower cluster produces purple-blue tubular flowers roughly 2 centimeters long. The flower has a hairy outer surface, a coat of hairs inside, and a hairless staminode. The flowers of this penstemon are pollinated by bees of genus Osmia, which feed on their nectar.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

8 - 31 in Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Purple

Special uses

Containers

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Site type

Rocky ridges and slopes

Plant communities

Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Subalpine Forest, Yellow Pine Forest

Hummingbirds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 13 likely

Confirmed Likely

Geranium Plume Moth

Amblyptilia pica

Archirhoe neomexicana

Anicia Checkerspot

Euphydryas anicia

Variable Checkerspot

Euphydryas chalcedona