Accession Count: 0
Common Name:
Parry's penstemon
Family Name:
Scrophulariaceae
Botanical Name:
Penstemon parryi
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Parry’s penstemon is a perennial flower that grows 3-5 feet tall (2,3,4). They can grow taller in cultivation. The stems are erect. They form a herb-like form. The plant is glabrous and glaucous. The leaves are lanceolate-shaped in an opposite arrangement. These blue-green leaves are thick and five inches long. The flowers are pink-red. The flowers form on long spikes, usually towards the top of the spike. The flowers are tubular. They are bilateral symmetrical flowers along the spike. The flowers are formed in springtime around March until May (2,3).
Compound:
Pen par
Geographic Origin:
Central Arizona
Ecozone Origin:
Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
Parry’s penstemon is native to Central Arizona and Sonora. These flowers are usually found at elevations of 1,500 - 5,000 feet. They usually grow in mountain canyons, desert washes, and grassland slopes (4). This species is short-lived, flowering in the spring seasons and dying back in the summer due to the hot weather (5).
Cultivation Notes:
The best time to plant Parry’s penstemon is in the fall, as the flower is dormant during the summer. These flowers require little care but can be easily overwatered and prefers good drainage. Parry’s penstemon is a fast-growing plant that does well in full or filtered sunlight. It is hardy, but flower damage can occur at temperatures below 15℉ (1). This species lives best in USDA zones 9-11 (3).
Ethnobotany:
Parry’s penstemon is commonly used for mass plantings, producing nectar, and attracting hummingbirds. It is an excellent addition to a native garden (5). Research lacks information on medicinal uses, but other plants of the same species have been used for medicinal purposes (6).
Height:
0 - 5 feet
Width:
0 - 5 feet
Growth Rate:
Fast Growing
Grow Season:
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
Red
Function:
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
