About Penstemon parryi A.Gray
Penstemon parryi, commonly called Parry's penstemon, Parry's beardtongue, or desert penstemon, is a wildflower native to the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona and northern Mexico. It is a perennial plant that blooms in March and April. In the wild, plants do not flower until their second year of growth. When cultivated, plants often bloom in their first year if seeds are planted in autumn. The plant produces lanceolate bluish-green leaves arranged in a rosette at its base. Flower stalks emerge from this basal rosette, growing 2 to 5 feet tall, and are topped with numerous deep-throated flowers. Flowers are typically pink, though horticultural selections have been bred for red color. As a native lowland desert species, it grows best in full sun to part shade. It can survive on the average annual rainfall of the Sonoran Desert, but cannot tolerate prolonged drought. This species attracts hummingbirds. Its attraction to hummingbirds and bright display of pink to red flowers make it a popular choice for xeriscaping. Penstemon parryi was named for Charles C. Parry, who worked as a surgeon-naturalist on the mid-19th century Mexican Boundary Survey.
