Parry’s penstemon is a tall, pink knockout of a wildflower that reliably blooms every spring. Here’s everything you need to know about growing and caring for this desert native.
Parry’s penstemon (Penstemon parryi) is a native desert wildflower that is a beloved harbinger of spring. Its foliage is unremarkable — triangular blue-green leaves that grow low to the ground. But when this plant is in bloom, you can’t miss it.
Plants send up 3 to 5-foot flower stalks that are covered with dozens of bright rose tubular flowers that provide a striking contrast to the abundance of yellow flowers that bloom in the desert spring.
This charming native would not look out of place in an English cottage garden, yet it can take whatever the desert throws at it — full sun and temperature extremes.
Plants are extremely low maintenance and when grown in the garden, they’re more likely to die from too much attention than from neglect.
The flowers, which generally bloom between February and April, attract numerous pollinators including butterflies, moths, bees, and hummingbirds. The seeds provide food for other various birds. Deer and rabbits usually leave this plant alone.
Why I Like This Plant
- Gorgeous, eye-catching flowers
- Fuss-free Sonoran Desert native
- Easy to start from seed
- Reseeds readily for more free plants
- Attracts bees, butterflies, birds
Things to Watch Out For
This truly is a plant that thrives on neglect. Plant it in poor soil where it receives full sun and minimal water (i.e., conditions it experiences in the wild) and it will be a happy plant. Pampering will make it more prone to root rot and powdery mildew.
Note that Parry’s penstemon is a short-lived perennial, only living 3-5 years. But once established it readily reseeds. As new plants pop up, they eventually outgrow and replace the older plants.
While it’s considered an evergreen perennial, it’s not unusual for it to go dormant during the summer. So don’t be surprised if your plant completely dies back. They usually resurface the following spring.
If you want to control exactly where they grow, simply remove the seed stalk as soon as the blooms fade so they won’t reseed.
Penstemons are not considered poisonous to pets but since they can accumulate selenium, it’s best to keep dogs and horses from eating it.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding Parry’s penstemon to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plants looking good and coming back every year.
Here are the main factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Parry’s penstemon should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 – 11. It has no problem with desert heat and is cold-hardy down to 10℉.
Sun Exposure
As a native desert wildflower, Parry’s penstemon prefers full sun. You can grow it in part shade, but it will have fewer flowers and be more susceptible to powdery mildew and root rot.
Size and Growth Rate
Parry’s penstemon grows moderately fast. If you sow seeds, note that it takes two years for the plant to bloom. The foliage forms rosettes usually 1 foot tall by 2 feet wide, but the flower stalks can shoot up to an impressive 3, 4, or even 5 feet tall!
Soil
Parry’s penstemon naturally grows in dry, sandy or gravelly, alkaline soil. It performs best in the garden when planted in similar conditions. It’s prone to root rot in poorly drained soils.
Other Location Considerations
When in bloom, this plant is a tall show-stopper. Once it’s stopped blooming it doesn’t look like much and can actually “disappear” as it goes dormant.
For these reasons, it’s best to plant at the back of your garden or among plants with longer periods of visual interest to fill the gap. Some of my favorite pairings are with desert marigolds or ornamental grasses.
Parry’s Penstemon:
The Essentials
| Common Names | Parry’s penstemon, Parry’s Beardtongue |
| Scientific Name | Penstemon parryi |
| Origin | Arizona, Mexico |
| Plant Type | Perennial wildflower |
| USDA Zones | Zones 9 – 11 |
| Cold Hardy | To 10℉ |
| Flower Color | Rose pink |
| Flower Season | Spring |
| Mature Size | 1’ high x 2’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Sun Tolerance | Full sun, part shade |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Pests & Diseases | Root rot if overwatered, powdery mildew |
| Garden Friendly | No thorns, non-toxic |
| Wildlife | Attracts butterflies, bees birds, hummingbirds Deer, rabbit resistant |
How to Plant
The rule of thumb when planting any perennial in the desert is to dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Wildflowers do not like to be transplanted so remove from the pot carefully and disturb the roots as little as possible.
Amending the soil is not recommended. Counterintuitively, backfilling with the same native soil you just dug up helps your plant develop a stronger root system.
Parry’s penstemon doesn’t like to be crowded, so give it a few feet from other plants.
When to Plant
It is best to plant penstemon in the fall, but ironically, they can be hard to find at nurseries then. Spring is the second best time to plant and plants are more readily available.
Growing Parry’s Penstemon: Seed vs Transplants
I rarely have the patience to start perennials from seed, but Parry’s penstemon is one I make an exception for.
While it’s the most commonly grown penstemon in the southwest, you may have trouble finding it when you are ready to plant. I rarely see them in the fall (the best time to plant) but sometimes find them at local nurseries in the spring (the second best time to plant).
You can buy seeds or gather them, provided you do it responsibly. Sow in the fall and if they like where you’ve planted them, you’ll be rewarded with seedlings the following spring.
Please see A Guide to Collecting and Growing Sonoran Desert Wildflowers. This brochure published by the Native Arizona Plant Society will tell you everything you need to know about collecting wildflower seeds.
Do not dig up wild plants!
They almost certainly will not survive and you will have
deprived the area of next year’s seedlings.
How to Care for Parry’s Penstemon
This section is short since these plants really don’t need much care.
How to Water
While your plant could live on rainfall alone — as it does in the wild — it will do better if it gets watered 1-2 times per month, either from rainfall or irrigation.
Should You Fertilize?
In general, native wildflowers don’t need fertilizer since they are well-adapted to thrive in native soil.
Pruning and Thinning
Parry’s penstemon needs no pruning other than cutting the flower stalk after it has bloomed. If you want it to reseed or plan to collect seeds, leave the flower stalks in place until the seed pods have turned brown and dried. Then you can easily collect the seeds.
Parry’s penstemon doesn’t like to be crowded so if it reseeds, sometimes the best strategy is to remove older plants to give its offspring room to grow.
Parry’s Penstemon Cultivars
The only Parry’s penstemon cultivar I’m aware of is Penstemon x ‘Red Headed Beauty’, a Civano Growers exclusive. It’s a hybrid cross between P. palmeri, P. parryi, and P. superbus. ‘Red headed beauty’ is larger, more vigorous, and longer-lived than the parent plants and has fragrant, vibrant pink flowers.
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for 15 years.
