There’s no shortage of wildflower species that thrive in Colorado’s rugged terrain – but one of those species is considered to be one of the rarest plants on the planet.

Dubbed the Parachute penstemon, this flower species only has seven known populations per a recent report from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, all of which appear to be located in the area of western Colorado’s Roan Plateau.

The Parachute penstemon grows in particularly rugged terrain consisting of steep shale fields at about 7,800 feet to 9,200 feet of elevation. This means that rock climbing abilities or drones are often required for finding and monitoring populations, with the flower in bloom from about mid-June to mid-July each year.

According to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, the Parachute penstemon, also known as the Parachute beardtongue or the penstemon debilis, was first discovered in 1986, adopting its namesake from the nearby town of Parachute. One interesting ability of this plant that allows it to survive on unstable and ever-moving slopes is how it can elongate its stem as leaves are covered by shifting talus.

To put it into perspective how limited the range of the Parachute penstemon is, this range is said to stretch two miles wide and 17 miles long, with small populations found in that area. It’s likely that unknown populations are present in this area, too, though cliffside terrain and private land ownership can limit the ability to survey.

Learn more about this plant species here or listen to Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Raquel Wertsbaugh discuss the Parachute penstemon on a podcast here.

STAY INFORMED: Get free Colorado news with our daily newsletter (Click here)