Keckiella antirrhinoides

Common Names

Snapdragon Penstemon, Chaparral Beard Tongue, Yellow Bush Penstemon, Chaparral Bush-Beardtongue, Bush Penstemon, Chaparral Beardtongue, Yellow Bush Snapdragon

Summary

This shrub is native to western North America, including the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of California, Arizona, and northern Baja California, with distribution into chaparral–Colorado Desert ecotone and the Peninsular Ranges; it grows 0.6–2.5 m tall with spreading to erect, canescent stems and opposite leaves that are small, linear to oblanceolate or elliptic; flowers are fragrant and bright yellow, with an all-yellow corolla 15–23 mm long, arranged in leafy panicles 5–30 cm long; the upper lip is arched, a densely bearded sterile filament is present, and fruits are capsules 7–10 mm long; bloom occurs in April–June on rocky slopes at elevations roughly 457–1,524 m (1,500–5,000 ft).

In cultivation, prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils; drought-tolerant with low water needs, requiring up to two irrigation events per month once established; commonly used in xeriscapes and native plantings; attracts pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2-8 feet

Spread

2-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun, tolerates partial sun and partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Soil pH

6.0-7.5

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, other pollinators, and birds