Penstemon triflorus, Heller's Beardtongue, Southwest Desert Flora

Penstemon triflorus, Heller's Beardtongue

Heller's Beardtongue is a beautiful species with its paired flowers and paired leaves. Flowers range in color from deep pink to rose and even red in Texas. Penstemon triflorus

Heller's Beardtongue has a deep pink/rose colored flower with a striking floral tube that attracts hummingbirds. Penstemon triflorus

Heller's Beardtongue is a dramatic looking plant with glossy green leaves and with a light colored short-haired pubescence throughout its foliage. Penstemon triflorus

Heller's Beardtongue has paired green leaves attached at the stem (sessile). Penstemon triflorus

Heller's Beardtongue with deep pink flora tubes. Penstemon triflorus

Scientific Name: Penstemon triflorus
Common Name: Heller's Beardtongue
Also Called: Heller's Beardtongue, Heller's Penstemon, Hill Country Beardtongue, Hill Country Penstemon, Scarlet Beardtongue, Scarlet Penstemon
Family: Scrophulariaceae, Figwort or Snapdragon Family - Moving to Plantaginaceae
Synonyms: ()
Status: Native
Duration: Perennial
Size: Up to 1½ feet or more.
Growth Form: Forb/herb; plants small bushy; herbage with a light-colored short haired pubescence.
Leaves: Green, dark glossy green; leaves paired, opposite and sessile.
Flower Color: Pink, deep pink, deep rose or reddish; flowers in pairs; corolla bilabiate, light and dark streaking inside flora tubes.
Flowering Season: April to May.
Elevation: 500 to 3,000 feet.

Habitat Preferences: Limestone hills, open areas.

Recorded Range: Penstemon triflorus is rare in the United States where it is endemic to Edwards Plateau, Texas.

North America & US County Distribution Map for Penstemon triflorus.

U.S. Weed Information: No information available.
Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: No information available.
Wetland Indicator: No information available.
Threatened/Endangered Information: No information available.

Genus Information: In North America there are 250 species and 393 accepted taxa overall for Penstemon. World wide, The Plant List includes 301 accepted species names and includes a further 188 infraspecific rank for the genus.

In the Southwestern United States, Arizona there are 43 species of Penstemon, in California there are 55 species, Nevada has 50 species, New Mexico has 47 species, Texas has 24 species, Utah has 73 species. All data is approximate and subject to taxonomic changes.

There is 1 subsp. in Penstemon triflorus;
Penstemon triflorus subsp. integrifolius , Heller's Beardtongue (TX).

Comments: Penstemon triflorus has beautiful deep pink flowers and a tubular floral tube making the plant attractive to hummingbirds. Although relatively rare in the United States, Penstemon triflorus is available commercially for landscape purposes. The photos above from a landscape specimen in Arizona.