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Husker Red Penstemon

Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red'

$9.59
$9.59 $11.99
per Plant - 5" Deep Pot
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ZONES  3-8 | Good to grow! Zone
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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).

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Description

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.

Planting & Care

Tips for growing Penstemon (Beardtongue)

Penstemon are generally evergreen and have beautiful flowers that are very attractive to hummingbirds. Most varieties are rabbit resistant.

  1. They need “elbow room,” maximum sun, heat and don’t like to be crowded by other plants.
  2. Plant only in well-drained soils; clay soils and Penstemon are incompatible.
  3. Avoid overly enriched soils; too much compost and fertilizer will shorten their lifespan.
  4. They establish quickly and the amount and frequency of watering needs to be reduced after about 8 to 10 weeks to create dry conditions.
  5. 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.
  6. Plant high, leaving the top of the rootball just above the surrounding soil to avoid burying the crown of the plant.
  7. 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.
  8. Allow some of the plants to set seed (don't deadhead all of the flower spikes)*.
  9. Fertilize sparingly. One time each year in the fall is enough. Apply a light application of an organic or natural fertilizer such as Yum Yum Mix as a top dressing around the plants. Don't use high nitrogen water soluble fertilizer like Miracle Grow.

*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').

More in-depth guidance for growing Penstemon: Growing Penstemon, The Beardtongue Family: Penstemania for Penstemon.

Shipping

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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 fall-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.

Perennials and fall-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your Growing Zone. Perennial and fall-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 at (801) 769-0300 or contact us by email or chat.

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Key Features

Light Requirements

  • Morning Sun & Afternoon Shade
  • Full Sun

Water Tolerance

Low-Water

Bloom Time

Late spring to early summer

Advantages

  • Bee Friendly
  • Attracts Hummingbirds
  • Native
  • Long Bloom Time
  • Naturalizes
  • Rabbit Resistant

Additional information

Mature Height

28-32" tall

Mature Spread

15-18" wide

Soil Type

  • Compost Enriched Garden Loam Soil

Soil Moisture

  • Waterwise

Planting Time

  • Fall

Awards

PPA Perennial Plant Of The Year

Native To

North America

Growing Zones

  • Zone 3
  • Zone 4
  • Zone 5
  • Zone 6
  • Zone 7
  • Zone 8

Ships As

Potted Plant

Can Send To PO Box

No
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Overall rating: 4.818182 / 5 from 11 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Summary topics

Review topics: ["penstemon","plant","leaves","flowers","garden","contrast"].

Review highlights

Reviews

"Quick drlivery, well packaged, all plants healthy. Great job!"

— William (5/5)

Red husker penstemon have grown enormously!

"In 2nd year of growth these penstemon are enormous in size. Possibly I planted without enough space in between but I did not imagine that they would dominate one side of the garden as they are doing now. . considering moving some plants to a new location."

— Witz (4/5)

Stately

"This is holding up nicely and it looks so stately. #sweepstakes"

— L (5/5)

Wonderful border plant

"The late spring/early summer flowers are beautiful, but so are the interesting leaves, which turn a more maroon color in fall. The plants were hardy, but take a year to really get established. Nice cultivar."

— GreenGoblin (5/5)

Beautiful Red Penstemon

"Red Husker adds a colorful contrast to the garden. I planted last fall and was not disappointed."

— Kris (5/5)

I could buy more of them.

"Very pretty plant. It is large and blooming after a fall planting."

— Jackie (5/5)

Great plant

"I have Husker Red in some borders and also scattered throughout a meadow garden. I love this stuff! It's not a flower that makes you stop and go ""wow,"" but they are beautiful additions and accent other flowers with their pale pink spray of blooms. I especially like them along side False Indigo, Lupine or Painted Daisies. And, of course, the red foliage is a beautiful contrast from mid-Spring to late fall. They self-seed easily, which has made them especially useful in the meadow garden. Deadhead after blooming if you don't want them to multiply."

— Boomershot (5/5)

I would definitely use High Country Gardens again

"The plants arrived in perfect condition, best I ever received by mail. Blooming the first year!"

— Sue (5/5)

Wonderful Hummingbird Attractor!

"I love this Penstemon, with the wonderful red leaves and white flowers, it is a beautiful hummingbird plant."

— Namowicz99 (5/5)

Love my Penstemon!

"Love beautiful, various Penstemon!!! So airy and dainty in the garden! Adds color and delicate sprays in the garden!!! Always a long lasting treat!!!"

— Rae (5/5)

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