Wildflower/Perennial · Sonoran native
Parry's Penstemon
Penstemon parryi · Plantaginaceae
Also called: Parry's Beardtongue
Parry's Penstemon (Penstemon parryi) is a low-water wildflower/perennial native to the Sonoran Desert region well suited to Tucson and the low desert. Expect bright rose-pink to magenta blooms early to mid spring.
Parry's Penstemon at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun to light afternoon shade
- Mature size
- 24-36 in H (in bloom) x 18-24 in W; flower spikes can reach 3-4 ft
- Growth rate
- Fast; quickly forms a basal rosette and bolts in its first or second spring
- Bloom
- Bright rose-pink to magenta, Early to mid spring (March-April)
- Cold hardiness
- Hardy to about 10-15 F (USDA zones 8-10)
- Soil
- Requires excellent drainage; thrives in sandy, gravelly, and decomposed-granite desert soils. Rots in heavy, poorly drained ground.
- Native range
- Native to the Sonoran Desert of southern and central Arizona and adjacent Sonora, Mexico; common on desert slopes, washes, and roadsides.
- Best used as
- Spring color accent, Hummingbird and pollinator gardens, Native and xeriscape plantings, Mass wildflower displays
- Wildlife
- A magnet for hummingbirds (both resident and migrating) and native bees; supports butterflies and other pollinators.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic to people and pets.
How to grow Parry's Penstemon in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Drought tolerant when established; in Tucson water every 1-2 weeks in fall and through spring bloom for best flowering, then little to no supplemental water in summer. Avoid overwatering, especially in summer dormancy.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Low needs; thrives in lean soils. Skip fertilizer or apply only a very light feeding. Rich, over-fertilized soil produces floppy growth and shorter life.
Pruning & care
Deadhead or cut spent flower stalks after bloom to tidy the plant and prolong life; leave some seed heads to allow reseeding. Cut back to the basal rosette after blooming.
Notes
Short-lived perennial (often 2-4 years) that reseeds freely, so it persists in the garden as a self-sowing 'wildflower.' One of the showiest and earliest-blooming desert penstemons; tall pink wands light up roadsides in spring.
Sources: AMWUA 'Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert'; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory