Bloomipedia
Eggleaf beardtongue (Penstemon ellipticus)
Photo: mark-groeneveld via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Eggleaf beardtongue

Penstemon ellipticus

Eggleaf beardtongue (Penstemon ellipticus) is a low shrub in the Plantaginaceae family, native in the lower 48 states.

Native to Montana

Eggleaf beardtongue is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

4states where USDA records it
470MT sightings*
518U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Montana

Quick look

Penstemon ellipticus, commonly called rocky ledge penstemon, is a species of penstemon from the Rocky Mountains in the northwest US and western Canada.

  • It belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 4 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Montana. NatureServe
  • iNaturalist has 470 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #98 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month in Montana (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (29 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Montana.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records eggleaf beardtongue in 4 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Idaho, Montana, Washington, Wyoming.

Montana counties with USDA records: Flathead, Gallatin, Glacier, Missoula, Powell.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 13 counties across 3 states; the most are in Idaho (7), Montana (5), Washington (1).

Other Penstemon on Bloomipedia (16): Foxglove beardtongue, Cobaea beardtongue, Whipple's penstemon, Beardlip penstemon, Palmer's penstemon, Front range beardtongue, Firecracker penstemon, Large-flowered beardtongue, Sidebells penstemon, Royal beardtongue.

More from the Plantaginaceae family (29 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Bird's-eye speedwell, Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax), Purple foxglove, White turtlehead, Heath speedwell, Canada toadflax, Culver's root, Texas toadflax.

More Montana flowers

Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax) (Linaria vulgaris)

Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax)

Linaria vulgaris

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in MT
Small-flowered blue-eyed mary (Collinsia parviflora)

Small-flowered blue-eyed mary

Collinsia parviflora

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in MT
Balkan toadflax (Linaria dalmatica)

Balkan toadflax

Linaria dalmatica

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in MT

Sources