Bloomipedia
Firecracker penstemon (Penstemon eatonii)
Photo: Anders Hastings via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Firecracker penstemon

Penstemon eatonii

Firecracker penstemon (Penstemon eatonii) is a flowering plant in the Plantaginaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Firecracker penstemon is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

8states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
4,028U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Nevada, Utah

Quick look

Penstemon eatonii is a species of flowering plant in the genus Penstemon, known by the common name firecracker penstemon. It is native to the Western United States from Southern California to the Rocky Mountains. It grows in many types of desert, woodland, forest, and open plateau habitat.

  • It belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 8 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Utah and Nevada. NatureServe
  • In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
  • In Nevada, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–July. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as red. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2.5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 2,019 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #13 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 798 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #42 among the 132 flowers on our Nevada list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (773 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
UtahNativeApril–June2,019
NevadaNativeApril–July798

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Nevada
Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Nevada. NAC 527.010
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records firecracker penstemon in 8 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming.

Utah counties with USDA records: Beaver, Carbon, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Piute, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Wayne.

Nevada counties with USDA records: Clark, Humboldt, Lincoln, Nye, White Pine.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Firecracker penstemon a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.5 to 8.0 and winter lows down to -18 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
High
Moisture use
Low
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
6.5 to 8.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-18 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
120
Annual precipitation range
10 to 16 inches
Minimum root depth
12 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Rapid
Lifespan
Long
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Spring to Fall
Can be propagated by
seed
Commercial availability
Contracting Only

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for PEEA. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 41 counties across 6 states; the most are in Utah (20), Arizona (9), Nevada (5).

Other Penstemon on Bloomipedia (16): Foxglove beardtongue, Cobaea beardtongue, Whipple's penstemon, Beardlip penstemon, Palmer's penstemon, Front range beardtongue, Large-flowered beardtongue, Sidebells penstemon, Royal beardtongue, Hot rock penstemon.

More from the Plantaginaceae family (29 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Bird's-eye speedwell, Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax), Purple foxglove, White turtlehead, Heath speedwell, Canada toadflax, Culver's root, Texas toadflax.

More Utah flowers

Palmer's penstemon (Penstemon palmeri)

Palmer's penstemon

Penstemon palmeri

Native

🌼 Blooms in UT: May–June
Wasatch beardtongue (Penstemon cyananthus)

Wasatch beardtongue

Penstemon cyananthus

Native

🌼 Blooms in UT: May–July
Balkan toadflax (Linaria dalmatica)

Balkan toadflax

Linaria dalmatica

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in UT: May–September

Sources