Plant ID: Penstemon digitalis 'Huskers Red'

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Penstemon digitalis ‘Huskers Red’ is a perennial with year round enjoyment. A variety of the P. digitalis, it exhibits multi-colored leaves that are evergreen throughout all the seasons. This is a huge plus for the gardeners that use the plant. It will take a year or so to bloom when installed as a landscape plug - and the wait to see its flowers doesn’t feel like a wait at all. The leaves sit near the ground resembling an octopus with flatten arms trying to hide in plain sight.

What to Know

The leaves are so attractive, these plants can be planted with significant distance between them. We typically use them as individuals or in groups of 2 or 3. Spacing is important. We have them a minimum of 12 inches apart from tip of leaf to tip of leaf. This type of pattern means you can use several throughout a bed or landscape as a seasonal interest plant versus the basis of the design. When I first used it, I admired its leaves for months forgetting it flowered at all. The Husker Red is rich with charisma.  When it blooms, the flowers overshadow the beauty of the leaves. The flowers are like small beds hung from a spiring tall stem and occur from early to late June depending on the weather conditions. They are well liked by hummingbirds and butterflies - and are ideal if you want bouncing winged creatures fluttering about your yard. The verticality of the stems add to the striking appeal and this variety gives you whites and pinks and magenta hues. It nicely paired with grasses like Nassella tenuissima and Bouteloua curtipendula, and can be set as a foreground plant for Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’ or ‘Purple Tears’. In 1996, this Penstemon was elected Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association.

general information

Exposure: Sun

Soil: Dry to Average to Sandy

Height: 18 to 24 inches

Spread: 12 to 18 inches

Hardiness Zone: 3 - 8

Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Summer