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Penstemon flavescens

Pennell

Tall Yellow Beardtongue

G4Apparently Secure Found in 6 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.143620
Element CodePDSCR1L2B0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderPlantaginales
FamilyPlantaginaceae
GenusPenstemon
Other Common Names
High Mountain Penstemon (EN)
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 Date2025-04-23
Change Date2025-04-23
Edition Date2025-04-23
Edition AuthorsShelly, J.S. (1987), rev. Johnson, J. (2025)
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Penstemon flavescens is a perennial herb native to a small area of the western United States in the mountains of central Idaho and western Montana. Despite occupying a small range, this species is abundant to common within its habitat of subalpine ridges and open forests. This species faces minor threats from roads, recreation, and logging but appears to respond favorably after fires.
Range Extent Comments
Penstemon flavescens is a regional endemic in the northwestern United States. It is found in Mineral and Ravalli Counties, Montana, and Clearwater, Idaho, and Shoshone Counties, Idaho (FNA 2019, Lodewick 1999, Montana Natural Heritage Program 2025). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025 (CPNWH 2025, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
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 34 occurrences rangewide (CPNWH 2025, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Threats are not well documented, but several possible threats are visible on aerial imagery (RARECAT 2025). Clearcuts are visible next to two known locations, but Penstemon flavescens generally occurs in open patches between stands of trees (Wolfe 2014) and thin, high elevation stands (Montana Natural Heritage Program 2018) so they are less likely to be affected by timber harvests and can be avoided with careful planning. Small roads are also present near several occurrences but the plants appear to grow in roadcuts and next to a trailhead parking lot (iNaturalist 2025) so threats from roads are probably low unless new road construction is proposed. The Montana Natural Heritage states that there are no known threats to this species within the state (Montana Natural Heritage Program 2025).

The plants have been observed along trails in popular recreation areas (INaturalist 2025) and may be impacted by foot traffic and dispersed camping but significant disturbance has not been noted in observations (iNaturalist 2025, Wolfe 2014). At least three occurrences are found in burned areas but one observation (mtdenizen, iNaturalist observation number 28952200, 2019) notes more than 1000 plants in a recent burn scar which indicates the plants may benefit from some fires.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Penstemon flavescens grows at higher subalpine elevations in open whitebark pine and alpine larch forests, in meadows and dry, rocky openings on gravelly soil and rock outcrops (FNA 2019, SEINet 2025).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - ConiferForest EdgeWoodland - ConiferGrassland/herbaceousAlpine
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
IdahoSNRYes
MontanaS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
4 - Transportation & service corridorsRestricted - smallModerate - slightHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsRestricted - smallModerate - slightHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource useSmall (1-10%)UnknownModerate (short-term)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingSmall (1-10%)UnknownModerate (short-term)
5.3.4 - Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]Small (1-10%)UnknownModerate (short-term)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceLarge - restrictedSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesLarge - restrictedSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7 - Natural system modificationsRestricted (11-30%)Neutral or Potential BenefitUnknown
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionRestricted (11-30%)Neutral or Potential BenefitUnknown

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (6)
Idaho (3)
AreaForestAcres
Bighorn - WeitasNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest254,845
North Lochsa SlopeNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest117,662
West Meadow CreekNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest115,949
Montana (3)
AreaForestAcres
HoodooLolo National Forest105,162
Meadow Creek - Upper North ForkLolo National Forest6,906
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)Bitterroot National Forest114,953
References (12)
  1. Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria (CPNWH). 2025. Online database of vascular plant specimens from the Pacific Northwest. Online. Available: http://www.pnwherbaria.org/index.php (accessed 2025).
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2019. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 17: Magnoliophyta: Tetrachondraceae to Orobanchaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 737 pp.
  3. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  4. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  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. Lodewick, R., and K. Lodewick. 1999. Key to the genus Penstemon and its related genera in the tribe Cheloneae including Chelone, Chionophila, Keckiella, Nothochelone and Pennellianthus (Scrophulariaceae). Kenneth and Robin Lodewick, Eugene, Oregon. 136 pp.
  7. Montana Natural Heritage Program. 2018. Element Subnational Ranking Form in Biotics 5 database. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  8. Montana Natural Heritage Program. 2025. Montana Field Guide. Online. Available: http://fieldguide.mt.gov (Accessed 2025).
  9. NatureServe. 2025. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  10. NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2024. Version: 1.1.1 (released Oct 01, 2024).
  11. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
  12. Wolfe, A. 2014. Penstemon of the day: Penstemon flavescens. Post on News from Adi Wolfe's Lab - Ohio State University. Available: https://wolfelab.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/penstemon-of-the-day-penstemon-flavescens/ (Accessed April 2025)