Origin: Native

Growth Characteristics: Firecracker Penstemon is a short-lived perennial forb, growing 2-3 feet tall, with bright red flowers.  Growth being in early spring and flowers appear from early summer through early fall. 

Flowers: Brilliant red.  The tubular corolla is distinctly two-lipped at the mouth with a two-lobed upper lip and three-lobed lower lip.  there are four anther-bearing (fertile) stamens and a single sterile stamen that is often hairy at the tip.

Fruits/Seeds: A many-seeded capsule

Leaves: Leaves are dark green, clasping, and pointed.  They are 3-4 inches long and 1 inch wide.  There is a basal cluster of leaves that over-winter and are prominent in the spring long before the flower stalk emerges.

Firecracker penstemon is found on dry slopes and along sandy washes in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, mountain mahogany, and ponderosa pine communities.

Soils: Does best on well drained soils, but it will tolerate weakly saline to weakly acidic sites.

Firecracker penstemon provides erosion control, plant diversity, and beautification.  It is considered desirable forage for deer, antelope, and birds as either herbage or seed.