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Husker Red has beautiful burgundy colored foliage and tall spikes of pure white tubular flowers. Our plants are grown by cuttings from the original stock plants given to me by the breeder. The 1996 Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).
To determine if a plant is sufficiently cold hardy, the USDA created numbered zones indicating winter low
temperatures; the lower the zone number the colder the winter.
If the coldest winter temperature expected in your area is -15°F (zone 5) then any plants rated zones 3-5 will
survive the winter temperatures in your area.
If you live in very warm winter areas (zones 9-11) plants with zones 3-4 ratings are not recommended. The lack
of freezing winter temperatures do not provide a time for winter dormancy (rest).
28-32" tall x 15-18" wide. 'Husker Red's' combination of burgundy foliage and tall spikes of abundant white flowers make this 1996 Perennial Plant of the Year a garden standout. Many nurseries have since propagated the plant from seed (not cuttings) resulting in many 'Husker Red' plants lacking the deeply colored leaves of the original. Not so from us. Our plants are grown from breeder Dale Lindgren's original stock.
More Information
SKU
HC014669
Item Package Size
Plant - 5" Deep Pot
Common Name
Husker Red Beardtongue
Botanical Name
Penstemon digitalis Husker Red
Zones
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Light Requirements
Full Sun, Morning Sun & Afternoon Shade
Flower Color
White
Mature Height
28-32" tall
Mature Spread
15-18" wide
Bloom Time
Late spring to early summer
Ships As
Potted Plant
Soil Type
Compost Enriched Garden Loam Soil
Soil Moisture
Waterwise
Advantages
Bee Friendly, Attract Hummingbirds, Native, Extended Bloom Time (more than 4 weeks), Multiplies / Naturalizes, Rabbit Resistant
Awards
Perennial Plant of the Year
Ideal Region
Anywhere In The US, Northeast, Midwest, West, Southwest, Pacific Northwest
Planting Time
Spring / Summer, Fall
Native To
North America
Ships To Canada
No
Planting Guides
Tips for growing Penstemon (Beardtongue)
Penstemon are generally evergreen and have beautiful flowers that are very attractive to hummingbirds. Most varieties are rabbit resistant.
They need “elbow room,” maximum sun, heat and don’t like to be crowded by other plants.
Plant only in well-drained soils; clay soils and Penstemon are incompatible.
Avoid overly enriched soils; too much compost and fertilizer will shorten their lifespan.
They establish quickly and the amount and frequency of watering needs to be reduced after about 8 to 10 weeks to create dry conditions.
When using drip irrigation, be sure to put the emitter off to the side of the plant, not right on top of the root ball to avoid overwatering the plant.
Plant high, leaving the top of the rootball just above the surrounding soil to avoid burying the crown of the plant.
Mulch with gravel or pine needles in arid climates. No mulch is needed where conditions are moister. Always avoid bark, grass clippings, or compost as mulch materials.
Allow some of the plants to set seed (don't deadhead all of the flower spikes)*.
*To keep penstemon that have finely textured or matted evergreen foliage looking their best, you'll want to 'deadhead" them. Shear off the fading flowering spikes just as the plant is going out of flower. Gently bunch the flower spikes together with one hand and cut them off at the point where they go down into the mat of foliage with your clipper in your other hand. Recommended for the following varieties: P. pinifolius types (‘Compactum', ‘Mersea Yellow', ‘Nearly Red', ‘Magdalena Sunshine' and ‘Tall Orange Mix'), as well as Penstemon linarioides v. coloradensis and Penstemon virens ('Blue Lips').
View more Planting Guides, or download our complete Planting Guide for tips on caring for your plants when you receive your order, as well as planting instructions for Perennials, Spring-Planted Bulbs, Fall-Planted Bulbs, Cacti & Succulents, Xeric Plants and more.
Shipping
No longer available this season.
As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Some perennials are shipped as potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat. The ‘Plant Information’ section describes how that item will ship. All perennials and spring-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.
Perennials and spring-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your hardiness zone. Perennial and spring-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service toll-free at (800) 925-9387 or contact us by email.
Shipping Rates
Our shipping rates are calculated based on our actual average shipping costs. We do not seek to profit from shipping fees, so rest assured that our shipping rates reflect an average of what it costs to get our guaranteed products safely to your door.
US Shipping Charges
Merchandise Total
Shipping Charges
Up to $19.99
$8.99
$20 to $34.99
$10.99
$35 to $49.99
$12.99
$50 to $74.99
$14.99
$75 to $99.99
$16.99
$100 and Over
$18.99
Canadian Shipping Charges
Merchandise
Shipping Charges
Up to $24.99
$14.95
$25 to $49.99
$19.95
$50 to $74.99
$24.95
$75 to $99.99
$29.95
$100 and Over
$39.95
We charge one low flat rate for shipping our products even if your order requires multiple shipments. If you have any questions, please call us at (800) 925-9387.
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