Beardtongue Penstemon digitalis 'Huskers Red'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PEN-stem-on dij-ee-TAH-liss
- Description
-
'Huskers Red' Beardtongue is a hybrid herbaceous perennial with showy white tubular flowers and maroon-red leaves and stems. The flowers are born on tall stems in panicles late spring to early summer and attract hummingbirds and bees. The foliage is maroon in spring, turning greener with age but with maroon veining. The stems remain red making a nice contrast for the garden.
Plant in well-drained average to dry garden soil in full sun. It is drought tolerant once established. Wet winter soils will cause root rot. Use in the pollinator garden, rock garden, the perennial border, cottage garden or a naturalized setting.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Pollinator Garden in Full Sun Retaining Wall Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Penstemon
- Species:
- digitalis
- Family:
- Plantaginaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts hummingbirds and bees. Deer resistant.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Oval seed capsules, each containing numerous seeds from July to August.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1-inch flowers are white, sometimes with pink blushing and pinkish-purple veins on the inside lower petal. 2-lipped tubular flowers in panicles in late spring to early summer.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Basal leaves are elliptic and stem leaves are lance-shaped to oblong. The upper leaves are maroon when young and the lower leaves more green with maroon veins. Margins with fine serrations.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are maroon, smooth and round
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
