Bloomipedia
Royal beardtongue (Penstemon speciosus)
Photo: Irina Mitine via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Royal beardtongue

Penstemon speciosus

Native to Nevada

Royal beardtongue is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Nevada it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

6states
466NV sightings*
2,250U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Nevada

Quick look

Penstemon speciosus is a species of penstemon known by the common name royal penstemon of western North America.

  • It belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 6 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Nevada. NatureServe
  • In Nevada, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as blue. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2.5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 466 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #87 among the 110 flowers on our Nevada list. iNaturalist

Royal beardtongue gift ideas

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When does it bloom?

In Nevada, most flowering sightings come in May–July.

Flowering records by month in Nevada (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (22 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
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Nevada
Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: S5, secure in Nevada. NAC 527.010
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: UT (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

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 royal beardtongue in 6 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington.

Nevada counties with USDA records: Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, White Pine.

More Nevada flowers

Palmer's penstemon (Penstemon palmeri)

Palmer's penstemon

Penstemon palmeri

Native

🌼 Blooms in NV: April–July
Firecracker penstemon (Penstemon eatonii)

Firecracker penstemon

Penstemon eatonii

Native

🌼 Blooms in NV: April–July
Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata)

Creosote bush

Larrea tridentata

Native

🌼 Blooms in NV: March–June

Sources