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Penstemon compactus

(Keck) Crosswhite

Bear River Range Beardtongue

G2Imperiled Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.136418
Element CodePDSCR1L1H0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderPlantaginales
FamilyPlantaginaceae
GenusPenstemon
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2026-06-02
Change Date1999-01-22
Edition Date2026-06-02
Edition AuthorsRoth, E., rev. B. Franklin and K. Maybury (1996), rev. A. Treher (2014), rev. C. Nordman (2026).
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent250-1000 square km (about 100-400 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 80
Rank Reasons
Penstemon compactus is endemic to subalpine limestone and dolomite outcrops in a small area of the northern Wasatch Range and Bear River Range of Cache County in northern Utah and Franklin and Bear Lake counties in southeastern Idaho. It is estimated that there are twenty occurrences rangewide, which face threats from habitat degradation due to grazing, rights-of-way maintenance, recreation, and drought. It occurs within Inventoried Roadless Areas in Idaho on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, and within Inventoried Roadless Areas in Idaho on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
Range Extent Comments
Penstemon compactus occurs in the western United States, in the northern Wasatch Range and Bear River Range of northern Utah and southeastern Idaho. It is known from high elevations near Tony Lake and Mt. Naomi in Cache County, Utah and in Franklin and Bear Lake counties, Idaho (Cronquist et al. 1984, Welsh et al. 2008, Welsh et al. 2015, Stevens et al. 2020). Range extent was estimated to be about 850 square kilometers, using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025 (RARECAT 2025, UNHP 2025, GBIF 2026, iNaturalist 2026, NatureServe 2026, SEINet 2026).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are twenty occurrences rangewide (RARECAT 2025, UNHP 2025, GBIF 2026, iNaturalist 2026, NatureServe 2026, SEINet 2026). Given the remote habitat and occurrences in southeastern Idaho considered historical (last observed over 30 years ago), it is likely that there are more than 21 occurrences rangewide.
Threat Impact Comments
This species faces threats from habitat degradation due to grazing, rights-of-way maintenance, recreation, and drought, with additional potential threats from collection of plants or seed for horticulture as well as possible timber harvests, and future threats from augmentation of mountain goats (Alexander 2016, UNHP 2025). Livestock farming and ranching is the primary threat in Utah, noted in at least thirty observations, particularly in the Davenport Hollow and Doubletop Mountain areas (UNHP 2025). Hiking trails pass close to occurrences in Idaho and Utah, and hikers, trail maintenance, and off-road vehicles (ORVs) are impacting populations. Utah is in an "extreme" or "exceptional" drought, which likely extends into southeastern Idaho, and many rare species are being impacted by climate change and drought (Wrobleski 2023, UNHP 2025).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Penstemon compactus occurs on open calcareous (Limestone or Dolomite) slopes and outcrops in the subalpine zone at 1675 to 3040 m elevation. Common associates are conifer trees such as fir (Abies) or spruce (Picea), stinking horsemint (Monardella odoratissima), clematis (Clematis spp.), columbine (Aquilegia spp.), and other species of Penstemon (Welsh et al. 2008, Welsh et al. 2015, Alexander 2016, Stevens et al. 2020, SEINet 2026).

Reproduction

Flowers from June to August (Stevens et al. 2020).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - ConiferForest - MixedGrassland/herbaceousBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
UtahS2Yes
IdahoS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
4 - Transportation & service corridorsRestricted - smallModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsRestricted - smallModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource useUnknownUnknownUnknown
5.2 - Gathering terrestrial plantsUnknownUnknownUnknown
5.2.1 - Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)UnknownUnknownUnknown
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingUnknownUnknownUnknown
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceLarge - restrictedModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesLarge - restrictedModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesPervasive - largeModerate - slightLow (long-term)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesPervasive - largeModerate - slightLow (long-term)
8.1.2 - Named speciesPervasive - largeModerate - slightLow (long-term)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
11.2 - DroughtsPervasive (71-100%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (3)
Utah (3)
AreaForestAcres
Mt. Logan WestWasatch-Cache National Forest5,285
Mt. NaomiWasatch-Cache National Forest41,922
Temple PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest24,081
References (14)
  1. Alexander, J. 2016. The Utah Native Plant Society Rare Plant List: Version 2. Calochortiana. 3: 1-248.
  2. Cronquist, A., A.H. Holmgren, N.H. Holmgren, J.L. Reveal, and P.K. Holmgren. 1984. Intermountain Flora: Vascular Plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Vol. 4, Subclass Asteridae (except Asteraceae). New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 573 pp.
  3. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2026. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2026).
  4. iNaturalist. 2026. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2026).
  5. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  6. NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  7. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  8. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2026. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2026).
  9. Stevens, M., S. Love, and T. McCammon. 2020. The Heart of Penstemon Country: A Natural History of Penstemons in the Utah Region. Sweetgrass Books. Helena, MT.
  10. Utah Natural Heritage Program (UNHP). 2025. Element Subnational Ranking Form: <i>Penstemon compactus</i> in Biotics 5 database. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia (accessed 2 June 2026).
  11. Welsh, S.L. 1979. Illustrated manual of proposed endangered and threatened plants of Utah. Brigham Young Univ., Provo, UT. 318 pp.
  12. Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, S. Goodrich and L.C. Higgins. (Eds.) 2008. A Utah Flora. 4th edition, revised. Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, U.S.A. 1019 pp.
  13. Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, S. Goodrich, and L.C. Higgins. (Eds). 2015. A Utah flora, fifth edition, revised 2015. Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Provo, Utah. 987 pp.
  14. Wrobleski, A., Ernst, S., Weber, T., and A. Delach. 2023. The impact of climate change on endangered plants and lichen. PLOS Climate 2(7): e0000225.