Here is a Firecracker Penstemon here in northern Arizona. Penstemon is a common name for “beard tongue”, which comes from the bearded staminode found in most species. They are native to North America, found from Alaska to Mexico and coast to coast. There are many different colors of penstemons. They are found in habitats ranging from open deserts to moist fields to alpine zones. Penstemons attract pollinators such as hummingbirds, bees, wasps, and hawk moths.