Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Forb/Herb

General: Herbaceous, stems 1 to several from a tough root, erect or ascending, 0.3-1.2 m tall, glabrous and glaucous throughout.

Leaves: Elliptic, spatulate or oblanceolate 1-2.5 cm wide, 4-15 cm long, gradually narrowing to a winged petiole 1-4 cm long, upper ones narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, 1-2.5 cm wide, 3-12 cm long, obtuse tip, auriculate-clasping at base.

Flowers: Virgate inflorescence 10-50 cm long, peduncles few to many flowered, erect or divergent to 2.5 cm long, glabrous; calyx 3-5 mm high, ovate sepals glabrous, acute or short-acuminate, corolla rose, cerise, or rose-magenta, 13-21 mm long, tube 3-5 mm long, pilose at base of lower lip.

Fruits: Ovoid capsule 4-6 mm long.

Ecology: Found on hillsides, outwash slopes, and along canyons from 1,500-5,000 ft (457-1524 m); flowers March-May.

Notes: Diagnostic is the glabrous stem and clasping leaves.

Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species, other species in this genera have many uses.

Etymology: Penstemon is from Greek pente, five and stemon, indicating the five stamens of the genus, while parryi is named for Dr. Christopher Parry (1823-1890) an English-born, American botanist.

Synonyms: None

Editor: SBuckley, 2010