List of Penstemon species


This is a list of the species in the genus Penstemon. They are commonly called penstemons or beardtongues in English, and species will often have a common name based on both of these names. As the subgenuses have some taxonomic uncertainty, the species are arranged alphabetically by name in the lists. As of 2024 there are 281 species and seven natural hybrids, according to Plants of the World Online (POWO).[1] The database World Flora Online (WFO) regards all the species listed by POWO as valid, but additionally lists two natural hybrids as species and five additional species as valid.[2]

Penstemon species

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These 281 species of Penstemon are considered valid by both WFO and POWO, with the exception of Penstemon grandiflorus.[1][2] In both POWO and WFO, it is regarded as a synonym of Penstemon bradburyi. However, P. grandiflorus continues to be widely used as the correct species name in North America, including by the Flora of North America and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS database (PLANTS).[3][4] It is listed as P. grandiflorus in the table with the synonym noted.

Scientific name
Authority
Common names Photo
Penstemon abietinus
Pennell
Firleaf beardtongue  
Penstemon absarokensis
Evert
Absaroka Range beardtongue
Penstemon acaulis
L.O.Williams
stemless penstemon  
Penstemon acuminatus
Douglas ex Lindl.
sharpleaf penstemon  
Penstemon alamosensis
Pennell & G.T.Nisbet
Los Alamos beardtongue  
Penstemon albertinus
Greene
Alberta beardtongue  
Penstemon albidus
Nutt.
white penstemon  
Penstemon albifluvis
England
White River penstemon  
Penstemon albomarginatus
M.E.Jones
white-margined penstemon  
Penstemon ambiguus
Torr.

bush penstemon
gilia beardtongue
gilia penstemon

 
Penstemon ammophilus
N.H.Holmgren & L.M.Schultz
sandloving penstemon
Penstemon amphorellae
Crosswh.
 
Penstemon angelicus
(I.M.Johnst.) Moran
Penstemon anguineus
Eastw.
Siskiyou penstemon  
Penstemon angustifolius
Nutt. ex Pursh

broadbeard beardtongue
narrowleaf penstemon

 
Penstemon arenarius
Greene

Nevada sanddune beardtongue
sanddune penstemon

 
Penstemon arenicola
A.Nelson
sand penstemon  
Penstemon aridus
Rydb.
stiffleaf penstemon  
Penstemon arkansanus
Pennell
Arkansas beardtongue  
Penstemon atropurpureus
(Sweet) G.Don
Penstemon attenuatus
Douglas
sulphur penstemon  
Penstemon atwoodii
S.L.Welsh
Kaiparowits beardtongue  
Penstemon auriberbis
Pennell
Colorado penstemon  
Penstemon australis
Small
Eustis Lake beardtongue  
Penstemon azureus
Benth.
azure penstemon  
Penstemon baccharifolius
Hook.
baccharisleaf beardtongue  
Penstemon barbatus
(Cav.) Roth

golden-beard penstemon
beardlip penstemon

 
Penstemon barnebyi
N.H.Holmgren

Barneby's penstemon
White River Valley beardtongue

 
Penstemon barrettiae
A.Gray
Barrett's beardtongue  
Penstemon bicolor
(Brandegee) Clokey & D.D.Keck

pinto beardtongue
pinto penstemon

 
Penstemon bleaklyi
O'Kane & K.D.Heil
bleakly penstemon  
Penstemon bolanius
Straw
Penstemon bracteatus
D.D.Keck
Red Canyon beardtongue
Penstemon breviculus
(D.D.Keck) G.T.Nisbet & R.C.Jacks.

shortstem beardtongue
shortstem penstemon

 
Penstemon brevisepalus
Pennell
short-sepaled beardtongue  
Penstemon buckleyi
Pennell

buckley penstemon
Buckley's beardtongue

 
Penstemon caesius
A.Gray
San Bernardino beardtongue  
Penstemon caespitosus
Nutt. ex A.Gray
mat penstemon  
Penstemon calcareus
Brandegee
limestone beardtongue  
Penstemon californicus
(Munz & I.M.Johnst.) D.D.Keck
California penstemon  
Penstemon calycosus
Small
longsepal beardtongue  
Penstemon campanulatus
(Cav.) Willd.
bellflower beardtongue  
Penstemon canescens
Britton
eastern gray beardtongue  
Penstemon cardinalis
Wooton & Standl.
cardinal beardtongue  
Penstemon cardwellii
Howell
Cardwell's beardtongue  
Penstemon carnosus
Pennell
fleshy beardtongue
Penstemon caryi
Pennell
Cary's beardtongue  
Penstemon cedrosensis
Krautter
Cedros Island penstemon
Penstemon centranthifolius
(Benth.) Benth.
scarlet bugler  
Penstemon cinicola
D.D.Keck
ash penstemon  
Penstemon clevelandii
A.Gray
Cleveland's beardtongue  
Penstemon clutei
A.Nelson

Sunset Crater beardtongue
Sunset Crater penstemon

 
Penstemon cobaea
Nutt.

cobaea beardtongue
cobaea penstemon

 
Penstemon comarrhenus
A.Gray

dusty beardtongue
dusty penstemon

 
Penstemon concinnus
D.D.Keck

Tunnel Springs beardtongue
Tunnel Springs penstemon

Penstemon confertus
Douglas
yellow penstemon  
Penstemon confusus
M.E.Jones

Owens Valley beardtongue
Owens Valley penstemon

 
Penstemon crandallii
A.Nelson
Crandall's penstemon  
Penstemon curtiflorus
(D.D.Keck) N.H.Holmgren
Penstemon cusickii
A.Gray
Cusick's beardtongue  
Penstemon cyananthus
Hook.
Wasatch beardtongue  
Penstemon cyaneus
Pennell
blue penstemon  
Penstemon cyanocaulis
Payson
bluestem beardtongue  
Penstemon cyathophorus
Rydb.

cupped penstemon
Middle Park penstemon

 
Penstemon dasyphyllus
A.Gray

Cochise beardtongue
purple penstemon

Penstemon davidsonii
Greene

Davidson's penstemon
timberline penstemon

 
Penstemon deamii
Pennell
Deam's beardtongue
Penstemon deaveri
Crosswh.
Mt. Graham beardtongue  
Penstemon debilis
O'Kane & J.L.Anderson
Parachute beardtongue  
Penstemon degeneri
Crosswh.
Degener's beardtongue  
Penstemon deustus
Douglas ex Lindl.
scabland penstemon  
Penstemon digitalis
Nutt. ex Sims

talus slope penstemon
foxglove beardtongue

 
Penstemon diphyllus
Rydb.
twoleaf beardtongue
Penstemon discolor
D.D.Keck
Catalina beardtongue
Penstemon dissectus
Elliott
dissected beardtongue  
Penstemon distans
N.H.Holmgren
Mt. Tumbull beardtongue
Penstemon dolius
M.E.Jones

Jones's penstemon
Jones' beardtongue

 
Penstemon dugesii
Pérez-Calix & Zacarías
Penstemon duchesnensis
(N.H.Holmgren) Neese
Duchesne penstemon  
Penstemon eatonii
A.Gray

Eaton's penstemon
firecracker penstemon

 
Penstemon elegantulus
Pennell
rockvine penstemon
Penstemon ellipticus
J.M.Coult. & Fisher

eggleaf penstemon
rocky ledge penstemon

 
Penstemon eriantherus
Nutt. ex Pursh
fuzzytongue penstemon  
Penstemon euglaucus
English
glaucous beardtongue  
Penstemon eximius
D.D.Keck

extrodinary penstemon
unusual beardtongue

Penstemon fasciculatus
A.Gray
Penstemon fendleri
Torr. & A.Gray
fendler penstemon  
Penstemon filiformis
(D.D.Keck) D.D.Keck
threadleaf beardtongue  
Penstemon filisepalis
Straw
Penstemon flavescens
Pennell
high mountain penstemon
Penstemon floribundus
Danley
Cordillia's penstemon
Penstemon floridus
Brandegee

Panamint beardtongue
Panamint penstemon

 
Penstemon flowersii
Neese & S.L.Welsh
Flowers' beardtongue  
Penstemon franklinii
S.L.Welsh
Franklin's penstemon
Penstemon fremontii
Torr. & A.Gray
Fremont penstemon  
Penstemon fruticiformis
Coville
Death Valley penstemon  
Penstemon fruticosus
(Pursh) Greene
Greene bush penstemon  
Penstemon gairdneri
Hook.
Gairdner's beardtongue  
Penstemon galloensis
G.L.Nesom
Penstemon gentianoides
(Kunth) Poir.
gentian penstemon  
Penstemon gentryi
Standl.
Penstemon gibbensii
Dorn
Gibbens' beardtongue  
Penstemon glaber
Pursh
sawsepal penstemon  
Penstemon glandulosus
Douglas ex Lindl.
stickystem penstemon  
Penstemon glaucinus
Pennell
blueleaf beardtongue
Penstemon globosus
(Piper) Pennell & D.D.Keck
globe penstemon  
Penstemon goodrichii
N.H.Holmgren
Lapoint penstemon  
Penstemon gormanii
Greene
Gorman's beardtongue  
Penstemon gracilentus
A.Gray
slender penstemon  
Penstemon gracilis
Nutt.

lilac penstemon
slender penstemon

 

Penstemon grandiflorus
Nutt.
Penstemon bradburyi
Pursh

large flower penstemon
shell-leaf penstemon

 
Penstemon grahamii
D.D.Keck
Uinta Basin beardtongue  
Penstemon griffinii
A.Nelson
Griffin's beardtongue
Penstemon grinnellii
Eastw.
Grinnell's beardtongue  
Penstemon guadalupensis
A.Heller
Guadalupe beardtongue
Penstemon hallii
A.Gray
Hall's beardtongue  
Penstemon harbourii
A.Gray
Harbour's beardtongue
Penstemon harringtonii
Penland
Harrington's beardtongue
Penstemon hartwegii
Benth.
Hartweg's beardtongue  
Penstemon havardii
A.Gray
Big Bend beardtongue
Penstemon haydenii
S.Watson ex J.M.Coult.

blowout beardtongue
blowout penstemon

 
Penstemon henricksonii
Straw
Penstemon hesperius
M.E.Peck
tall western penstemon
Penstemon heterodoxus
A.Gray

Sierra beardtongue
Sierra penstemon

 
Penstemon heterophyllus
Lindl.
bunchleaf penstemon  
Penstemon hidalgensis
Straw
Penstemon hirsutus
(L.) Willd.
hairy beardtongue  
Penstemon humilis
Nutt. ex A.Gray

low beardtongue
low penstemon

 
Penstemon idahoensis
N.D.Atwood & S.L.Welsh
Idaho penstemon
Penstemon imberbis
(Kunth) Trautv.
Penstemon immanifestus
N.H.Holmgren

Steptoe Valley beardtongue
Steptoe Valley penstemon

Penstemon incertus
Brandegee
Mojave beardtongue  
Penstemon inflatus
Crosswh.
inflated beardtongue  
Penstemon isophyllus
B.L.Rob.
equal-leaved penstemon  
Penstemon jamesii
Benth.

James penstemon
James' beardtongue

 
Penstemon janishiae
N.H.Holmgren

Antelope Valley beardtongue
Janish's penstemon

 
Penstemon kingii
S.Watson

King's beardtongue
King's penstemon

 
Penstemon kralii
D.Estes
Penstemon labrosus
(A.Gray) Mast. ex Hook.f.
San Gabriel beardtongue  
Penstemon laetus
A.Gray
mountain blue penstemon  
Penstemon laevigatus
Aiton
eastern smooth beardtongue  
Penstemon laevis
Pennell

southwestern beardtongue
southwestern penstemon

 
Penstemon lanceolatus
Benth.
lanceleaf penstemon  
Penstemon laricifolius
Hook. & Arn.
larchleaf beardtongue  
Penstemon laxiflorus
Pennell
nodding beardtongue  
Penstemon laxus
A.Nelson
tufted penstemon
Penstemon leiophyllus
Pennell

smoothleaf beardtongue
smoothleaf penstemon

 
Penstemon lemhiensis
(D.D.Keck) D.D.Keck & Cronquist
Lemhi penstemon
Penstemon lentus
Pennell

handsome beardtongue
handsome penstemon

 
Penstemon leonardii
Rydb.

Leonard's beardtongue
Leonard's penstemon

 
Penstemon leonensis
Straw
 
Penstemon linarioides
A.Gray

creeping penstemon
toadflax penstemon

 
Penstemon longiflorus
(Pennell) S.L.Clark
longflower penstemon
Penstemon luteus
G.L.Nesom
Penstemon lyallii
(A.Gray) A.Gray
Lyall's beardtongue  
Penstemon marcusii
(D.D.Keck) N.H.Holmgren
Marcus' beardtongue
Penstemon mensarum
Pennell
tiger beardtongue  
Penstemon metcalfei
Wooton & Standl.
Metcalfe's beardtongue
Penstemon miniatus
Lindl.
 
Penstemon miser
A.Gray
Malheur penstemon  
Penstemon moffatii
Eastw.
Moffatt's beardtongue  
Penstemon mohinoranus
Straw
Cerro Mohinora penstemon
Penstemon monoensis
A.Heller
Mono penstemon  
Penstemon montanus
Greene
cordroot beardtongue  
Penstemon moriahensis
N.H.Holmgren

Mount Moriah penstemon
Mt. Moriah beardtongue

Penstemon mucronatus
N.H.Holmgren
Penstemon multiflorus
(Benth.) Chapm. ex Small
manyflower beardtongue  
Penstemon murrayanus
Hook.
scarlet beardtongue  
Penstemon nanus
D.D.Keck
dwarf beardtongue  
Penstemon navajoa
N.H.Holmgren
Navajo Mountain beardtongue
Penstemon neomexicanus
Wooton & Standl.
New Mexico beardtongue  
Penstemon neotericus
D.D.Keck
Plumas County beardtongue  
Penstemon newberryi
A.Gray

mountain pride
pride-of-the-mountains

 
Penstemon nitidus
Douglas ex Benth.
waxleaf penstemon  
Penstemon nudiflorus
A.Gray
Flagstaff beardtongue
Penstemon occiduus
Straw
Penstemon oklahomensis
Pennell

Oklahoma beardtongue
Oklahoma penstemon

Penstemon oliganthus
Wooton & Standl.
Apache beardtongue  
Penstemon ophianthus
Pennell

Arizona beardtongue
coiled anther penstemon

 
Penstemon osterhoutii
Pennell
Osterhout's beardtongue
Penstemon ovatus
Douglas
eggleaf beardtongue  
Penstemon pachyphyllus
A.Gray ex Rydb.

thickleaf beardtongue
thickleaf penstemon

 
Penstemon pahutensis
N.H.Holmgren

Pahute penstemon
Paiute beardtongue

 
Penstemon pallidus
Small
pale beardtongue
Penstemon palmeri
A.Gray

Palmer's penstemon
Palmer penstemon

 
Penstemon papillatus
J.T.Howell
Inyo beardtongue  
Penstemon parryi
A.Gray

Gray Parry penstemon
Parry's beardtongue

 
Penstemon parvulus
(A.Gray) Krautter
Aquarius Plateau beardtongue  
Penstemon parvus
Pennell
Aquarius Plateau penstemon
Penstemon patens
(M.E.Jones) N.H.Holmgren

Lone Pine beardtongue
Lone Pine penstemon

 
Penstemon payettensis
A.Nelson & J.F.Macbr.
Payette beardtongue  
Penstemon paysoniorum
D.D.Keck
Payson's beardtongue  
Penstemon peckii
Pennell
Peck's beardtongue  
Penstemon penlandii
W.A.Weber

Kremling beardtongue
Kremling penstemon

 
Penstemon pennellianus
D.D.Keck
Blue Mountain beardtongue  
Penstemon perfoliatus
Al.Brongn.
Penstemon perpulcher
A.Nelson
Minidoka beardtongue  
Penstemon personatus
D.D.Keck
closethroat beardtongue  
Penstemon petiolatus
Brandegee

lime penstemon
petiolate beardtongue

 
Penstemon pinifolius
Greene

pineneedle beardtongue
pineneedle penstemon

 
Penstemon pinorum
L.M.Shultz & J.S.Shultz
Pine Valley penstemon
Penstemon plagapineus
Straw
pine-land penstemon
Penstemon platyphyllus
Rydb.

broadleaf beardtongue
broadleaf penstemon

 
Penstemon potosinus
Straw
San Luis Potosi penstemon
Penstemon pratensis
Greene

whiteflower beardtongue
western whiteflower penstemon

 
Penstemon procerus
Douglas ex Graham

littleflower penstemon
pincushion beardtongue

 
Penstemon pruinosus
Douglas
Chelan beardtongue  
Penstemon pseudoparvus
Crosswh.

Mt. Washington beardtongue
San Mateo penstemon

 
Penstemon pseudoputus
(Crosswh.) N.H.Holmgren
Kaibab Plateau beardtongue  
Penstemon pseudospectabilis
M.E.Jones
desert penstemon  
Penstemon pudicus
Reveal & Beatley

bashful penstemon
Kawich Range beardtongue

 
Penstemon pumilus
Nutt.
Salmon River beardtongue  
Penstemon punctatus
Brandegee
Penstemon purpusii
Brandegee
Snow Mountain beardtongue  
Penstemon putus
A.Nelson
Black River beardtongue
Penstemon radicosus
A.Nelson
matroot penstemon  
Penstemon rattanii
A.Gray
Rattan's beardtongue  
Penstemon reidmoranii
Zacarías & A.Wolfe
Reid Moran's penstemon
Penstemon retrorsus
Payson
Adobe Hills penstemon
Penstemon rhizomatosus
N.H.Holmgren
Schell Creek penstemon
Penstemon richardsonii
Douglas ex Lindl.
cutleaf beardtongue  
Penstemon roezlii
Regel
Roezl's penstemon  
Penstemon roseus
(Cerv. ex Sweet) G.Don
pinto penstemon  
Penstemon rostriflorus
Kellogg

beaked beardtongue
beakflower penstemon
Bridge penstemon

 
Penstemon rotundifolius
A.Gray
roundleaf penstemon  
Penstemon rubicundus
D.D.Keck

Wassuck penstemon
Wassuk Range beardtongue

 
Penstemon rupicola
(Piper) Howell
cliff beardtongue  
Penstemon rydbergii
A.Nelson

meadow beardtongue
Rydberg penstemon
Rydberg's penstemon

 
Penstemon salmonensis
N.H.Holmgren
Penstemon saltarius
Crosswh.
Penstemon saxosorum
Pennell
upland beardtongue
Penstemon scapoides
D.D.Keck
pinyon beardtongue  
Penstemon scariosus
Pennell
White River beardtongue  
Penstemon schaffneri
(Hemsl.) Straw
jarritos penstemon
Penstemon secundiflorus
Benth.
sidebells penstemon  
Penstemon seorsus
(A.Nelson) D.D.Keck
shortlobe penstemon  
Penstemon sepalulus
A.Nelson
littlecup beardtongue  
Penstemon serrulatus
Menzies ex Sm.
serrulate penstemon  
Penstemon smallii
A.Heller
Small's beardtongue  
Penstemon spatulatus
Pennell
Wallowa penstemon  
Penstemon speciosus
Douglas
royal penstemon  
Penstemon spectabilis
Thurb. ex A.Gray
showy penstemon  
Penstemon stenophyllus
A.Gray
Sonoran beardtongue  
Penstemon stephensii
Brandegee
Stephens' penstemon  
Penstemon strictiformis
Rydb.

Mancos penstemon
stiff penstemon

 
Penstemon strictus
Benth.

Rocky Mountain beardtongue
Rocky Mountain penstemon

 
Penstemon subglaber
Rydb.
smooth penstemon  
Penstemon subserratus
Pennell
finetooth beardtongue  
Penstemon subulatus
M.E.Jones
hackberry beardtongue  
Penstemon sudans
M.E.Jones

Susanville beardtongue
Susanville penstemon

 
Penstemon superbus
A.Nelson
superb beardtongue  
Penstemon tenuiflorus
Pennell
eastern whiteflower beardtongue  
Penstemon tenuifolius
Benth.
Penstemon tenuis
Small
sharpsepal beardtongue  
Penstemon tepicensis
Straw
Penstemon teucrioides
Greene
germander beardtongue  
Penstemon thompsoniae
(A.Gray) Rydb.

Thompson's penstemon
Thompson's beardtongue
Thompson penstemon

 
Penstemon thurberi
Torr.

Thurber's penstemon
Thurber penstemon

 
Penstemon tidestromii
Pennell
Tidestrom's beardtongue  
Penstemon tiehmii
N.H.Holmgren
Tiehm's penstemon
Penstemon tracyi
D.D.Keck
Trinity penstemon  
Penstemon triflorus
A.Heller
Heller's beardtongue  
Penstemon triphyllus
Douglas
Riggin's penstemon  
Penstemon tubaeflorus
Nutt.
white wand beardtongue  
Penstemon uintahensis
Pennell
Uinta Mountain beardtongue  
Penstemon utahensis
Eastw.
Utah penstemon  
Penstemon venustus
Douglas
Venus penstemon  
Penstemon virens
Pennell ex Rydb.
Front Range beardtongue  
Penstemon virgatus
A.Gray
upright blue beardtongue  
Penstemon vizcainensis
Moran
Penstemon vulcanellus
Crosswh.
Penstemon wardii
A.Gray
Ward's beardtongue  
Penstemon washingtonensis
D.D.Keck
Washington beardtongue
Penstemon watsonii
A.Gray

Watson's penstemon
Watson's beardtongue
Watson penstemon

 
Penstemon wendtiorum
B.L.Turner[5]
Penstemon whippleanus
A.Gray

dark penstemon
Whipple's penstemon

 
Penstemon wilcoxii
Rydb.
Wilcox's penstemon  
Penstemon wislizeni
(A.Gray) Straw
 
Penstemon wrightii
Hook.
Wright's beardtongue  
Penstemon xylus
A.Nelson
Tushar Bluemat Penstemon
Penstemon yampaensis
Penland
Yampa penstemon  

Penstemon natural hybrids

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As of 2024 these seven naturally occurring hybrids are valid, according to POWO.[1] Two are considered valid species, according to WFO.[2]

Scientific name
Authority
Common names Photo
Penstemon × crideri
A.Nelson

Crider penstemon
Crider's penstemon

Penstemon × dubius
Davidson
dubius penstemon

Penstemon × jonesii
Pennell
Penstemon jonesii
Pennell

Jones' penstemon  
Penstemon × mirus
A.Nelson

Penstemon × moronensis
Crosswh.
Penstemon moronensis
Crosswh.

Penstemon × parishii
A.Gray
 
Penstemon × peirsonii
Munz & I.M.Johnst.

Additional Penstemon species

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These five species are listed as accepted by World Flora Online, but are not accepted by Plants of the World Online.[2]

Scientific name
Authority
Common names Photo
Penstemon brevibarbatus
Crosswhite
Penstemon cerrosensis
Kellogg
 
Penstemon compactus
(D.D.Keck) Crosswh.

cache beardtongue
compact penstemon

 
Penstemon jaliscensis
B.L.Rob.
Penstemon minutifolius
Straw

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Penstemon Schmidel". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Penstemon Schmidel". World Flora Online. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  3. ^ Freeman, Craig C. (5 November 2020). "Penstemon grandiflorus - FNA". Flora of North America. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  4. ^ Penstemon grandiflorus, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Profile, 27 March 2024
  5. ^ Turner, B. L. (2010). Taxonomy of the Penstemon campanulatus complex (Scrophulariaceae) and description of a new species from its midst. Phytoneuron 31 1–5.