# Parry's beardtongue (*Penstemon parryi*)

Parry's beardtongue is a beautiful flower with bright purple blooms. It grows in rocky places and attracts bees and butterflies, making it a lovely sight in nature.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Mountain regions

![Parry's beardtongue](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Penstemon_parryi%252C_by_Mary_Vaux_Walcott.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Mary Vaux Walcott, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Penstemon_parryi%252C_by_Mary_Vaux_Walcott.jpg)

## Appearance

The Parry's beardtongue has tall, slender stems topped with vibrant rose-pink to purple, trumpet-shaped flowers. Its blooms stand out with two distinct lips and a fuzzy 'tongue' inside, making it visually unique.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Lamiales
- **Family:** Plantaginaceae
- **Genus:** Penstemon

## Interesting facts

- It loves growing in rocky, sandy soils, thriving where many plants struggle to survive!
- Its 'beardtongue' isn't a real tongue, but a fuzzy sterile stamen that helps guide pollinators!
- Some native bees are so specialized they only visit certain Penstemon flowers for nectar!
- This desert beauty can grow up to a meter tall, towering over many other wildflowers!

## Special abilities

- **Deep Roots:** Parry's beardtongue has a strong taproot that helps it reach deep water sources to survive in dry desert environments.
- **Sun Shield:** Parry's beardtongue can grow fuzzy hairs on its leaves and stems, which helps protect it from the intense desert sun.
- **Pollinator Beacon:** Parry's beardtongue has bright, colorful flowers that act like a beacon, attracting specific long-tongued bees for pollination.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-100 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Yellow-faced Bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** [Black-chinned Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-chinned-hummingbird) (*Archilochus alexandri*) — Feeds on nectar, aiding flower reproduction.
- **Eaten by:** [Black-tailed Jackrabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-tailed-jackrabbit) (*Lepus californicus*) — Jackrabbits may browse its leaves and stems.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Tube Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tube-flower): A tube flower has petals fused together at the base, forming a distinct tubular structure that typically holds nectar deep within.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch flowers unless an adult says it's okay.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Parry's beardtongue?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Parry's beardtongue?

30-100 cm

### How wide does Parry's beardtongue spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Parry's beardtongue?

2-3 cm

### When does Parry's beardtongue bloom?

Spring to early summer

### Is Parry's beardtongue edible?

No

### Is Parry's beardtongue toxic?

None

### What is Parry's beardtongue's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Parry's beardtongue: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/parrys-beardtongue)