 Throughout the year, Wyoming's landscapes can seem as though they're void of color. However, Wyoming's native rangelands seem to come alive when the popular flower penstemans are in full bloom. There are about 275 different species of penstemans that are common in North America, ranging from Alaska to Guatemala and from coast to coast. Its common name, Beartong, comes from the bearded staminaoid found in the flower portion of the pensteman species. These water-wise plants vary in size and color and bloom throughout the summer season. Floral colors include white, blue, violet, purple, pink, magenta, and red. Penstemans can grow in a variety of soils, even areas that seem quite inhospitable and harsh. Penstemans are also a popular garden ornamental around the world. With the proper conditions, this plant is known to survive with relatively little care. Blowout Pensteman is federally designated as an endangered plant species and was first recognized as part of Wyoming's flora in 1999. The ferris and killpecker dune fields are one place in which this very rare species is found. These bright colored plants are not only appreciated for their beauty, but also provide wildlife with an excellent food source. From the University of Wyoming Extension, I'm Brian Sebade, Exploring the Nature of Wyoming.