Plants preferred for pollinating include paintbrush, penstemon, columbine, trumpet gilia, and elephant head. Utah penstemon and golden aster can also be found. Penstemon spectabilis is a species of penstemon known by the common name showy penstemon. Penstemon eatonii is a species of penstemon known by the common name firecracker penstemon. The genus "Penstemon" is the largest in North America with 270 species. This leaves "Penstemon" a mostly nearctic genus, with a few neotropical species. The crater is the namesake for the Sunset Crater Beardtongue ("Penstemon clutei"). "Penstemon palmeri", Palmer's penstemon, grows erect and may reach height.