Flower profile
Sidebells penstemon
Penstemon secundiflorus
Sidebells penstemon is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Colorado it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Colorado
Quick look
Penstemon secundiflorus, commonly known as sidebells penstemon or orchid penstemon, is a species of Penstemon that grows in dry forests, high plains, and scrub lands from Wyoming to Mexico. It is a herbaceous perennial plant that typically grows to a height of 20 to 50 cm and has narrow, lance-shaped leaves that are grayish-green in color.
- 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 3 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Colorado. NatureServe
- In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,980 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #48 among the 110 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
Sidebells penstemon gift ideas
Handmade sidebells penstemon gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Sidebells penstemon art print
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Sidebells penstemon greeting card
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Sidebells penstemon mug
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Sidebells penstemon earrings
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Sidebells penstemon embroidery pattern
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Sidebells penstemon sticker
When does it bloom?
In Colorado, most flowering sightings come in May–June.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
- Colorado
- No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Colorado.
- 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?
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.
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 sidebells penstemon in 3 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming.
Colorado counties with USDA records: Boulder, Chaffee, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Elbert, Fremont, Gilpin, Jackson, Jefferson, Lake, Larimer, Mineral, Park, Rio Grande, Saguache, Teller.
More Colorado flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile PESE11.
- iNaturalist, Penstemon secundiflorus: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Penstemon secundiflorus (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Colorado: Colorado noxious weed lists A, B and C (8 CCR 1206-2, eff. May 15, 2025).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Penstemon secundiflorus (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Anders Hastings via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.