Rocky Mountain penstemon for birds in Nevada
Blue-violet spikes favored by Broad-tailed Hummingbirds. Native to Nevada, where it feeds or shelters 9 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Penstemon strictus
- Native status
- Native in Nevada
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–10a
- What birds get from it
- nectar
- Nevada birds supported
- 9
- Nesting birds among them
- 9
Growing conditions in Nevada
Great Basin cold desert in the north and Mojave hot desert around Las Vegas.
Very hot, dry summers; water is the top attractant.
Nevada birds that use Rocky Mountain penstemon
Year-round residents (3)
Summer breeders (6)
Black-chinned Hummingbird, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Bullock's Oriole, White-winged Dove, Hooded Oriole
Nesting season it supports in Nevada
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Rocky Mountain penstemon:
- Anna's Hummingbird — December–May
- Black-chinned Hummingbird — April–July
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird — June–July
- Costa's Hummingbird — February–May
- Gila Woodpecker — April–July
- Verdin — March–June
- Bullock's Oriole — May–July
- White-winged Dove — April–August
- Hooded Oriole — March–July
Native plants to pair with Rocky Mountain penstemon in Nevada
Scarlet late-summer spikes; a hummingbird magnet in moist soil.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Orchid-like flowers through summer for hummingbirds and orioles.
Frequently asked
Is Rocky Mountain penstemon native to Nevada?
Yes. Rocky Mountain penstemon (Penstemon strictus) is recorded as native in Nevada. Nevada spans USDA 4a–10a.
What birds does Rocky Mountain penstemon attract in Nevada?
In Nevada, Rocky Mountain penstemon supports 9 backyard birds, including Anna's Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Gila Woodpecker, Verdin.
Does Rocky Mountain penstemon help nesting birds in Nevada?
9 of those birds nest in Nevada: Anna's Hummingbird (December–May), Black-chinned Hummingbird (April–July), Broad-tailed Hummingbird (June–July), Costa's Hummingbird (February–May).
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Nevada
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.