Parachute Beardtongue: Colorado’s Critically Rare Native Wildflower
Meet the Parachute beardtongue (Penstemon debilis), one of Colorado’s most endangered native wildflowers. This delicate perennial holds the unfortunate distinction of being both federally threatened and critically imperiled, making it one of the rarest plants you’ll ever encounter. Before you get too excited about adding this beauty to your garden, there are some important things every responsible gardener should know.
A Flower Found Nowhere Else
The Parachute beardtongue is what botanists call an endemic species – it exists naturally in only one tiny corner of our planet. This remarkable little plant calls just a small area around Parachute Creek in Garfield County, Colorado, its home. Talk about being picky about your neighborhood!
As a native species to the lower 48 states, this penstemon represents thousands of years of adaptation to Colorado’s unique growing conditions. However, its extremely limited range means it’s hanging on by a thread in the wild.
Why This Plant is So Special (and So Rare)
With a Global Conservation Status of S1, the Parachute beardtongue is classified as Critically Imperiled. This means there are typically fewer than 1,000 individual plants remaining in the wild, scattered across just five or fewer locations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed it as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act, which tells you just how precarious its situation really is.
What makes a plant this rare? Usually, it’s a combination of factors:
- Extremely specific habitat requirements
- Limited seed dispersal ability
- Habitat destruction or modification
- Competition from non-native species
- Climate changes affecting its narrow ecological niche
What Does It Look Like?
As a member of the penstemon family, this plant produces the characteristic tubular flowers that make beardtongues so beloved by gardeners and pollinators alike. Being classified as a forb, it’s an herbaceous perennial that lacks woody tissue above ground – think of it as a delicate wildflower rather than a shrub or tree.
The plant likely displays the typical penstemon charm: slender stems topped with clusters of tubular flowers that are perfectly designed to attract native bees and other small pollinators. Its compact size and delicate nature reflect its adaptation to the specific conditions of its Colorado home.
Should You Grow Parachute Beardtongue?
Here’s where things get complicated. While every fiber of a native plant enthusiast’s being wants to celebrate and cultivate rare natives, the Parachute beardtongue presents a unique ethical dilemma. This plant is so rare that removing seeds or plants from wild populations could contribute to its extinction.
Our recommendation? Admire from afar and support conservation efforts instead.
If you’re absolutely determined to grow this species (perhaps you’re involved in legitimate conservation efforts), any plant material must come from responsibly sourced, legally obtained sources – never from wild collection. Most gardeners will never have access to legitimate sources of this plant, and that’s actually a good thing for the species’ survival.
Better Alternatives for Your Garden
Instead of potentially contributing to the decline of this rare beauty, consider these more common Colorado native penstemons that will give you similar aesthetic appeal:
- Rocky Mountain penstemon (Penstemon strictus)
- Palmer’s penstemon (Penstemon palmeri)
- Firecracker penstemon (Penstemon eatonii)
- Colorado penstemon (Penstemon coloradensis)
These alternatives will provide the same pollinator benefits and native plant charm without putting pressure on critically endangered populations.
Growing Conditions (If You Have Legal Access)
Should you somehow obtain legally and ethically sourced material through conservation programs, the Parachute beardtongue would likely thrive in conditions similar to its native habitat:
- Excellent drainage is absolutely critical
- Full sun to partial shade
- Low to moderate water needs once established
- Rocky or sandy soils that mimic its native environment
- USDA hardiness zones appropriate for Colorado natives (likely zones 4-7)
Like most penstemons, it would probably appreciate a rock garden setting or specialized native plant bed with sharp drainage and protection from excessive moisture.
Supporting Conservation
The best thing you can do for the Parachute beardtongue is to support conservation organizations working to protect its habitat and conduct legitimate breeding programs. Consider donating to botanical gardens or conservation groups involved in rare plant preservation.
Sometimes the most loving thing we can do for a plant is to leave it alone and work to protect the wild spaces where it belongs. The Parachute beardtongue serves as a powerful reminder that our native flora faces real threats – and that every gardener has a role to play in conservation.
While you might not be able to grow this particular rarity in your garden, you can absolutely make a difference by choosing other Colorado natives, creating pollinator habitat, and spreading awareness about the importance of plant conservation. That’s pretty special in its own right.
