Penstemon digitalis
Common Name: Husker Red, also known as Beardtongue.
Hardiness: Zones 3 to 8
The Perennial Plant Association has selected Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red' as its 1996 Perennial Plant of the Year. Members of the association select a perennial each year to educate the gardening public and promote planting of perennial flowers.
Several species of this plant are native throughout the United States and Canada.
'Husker Red' has white flowers in July and August, and reddish foliage, making it attractive for both the garden and in flower arrangements. These white blooms entice bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, but not deer or rabbits. The plant reaches about 30 inches tall and produces numerous flower stalks, each of which bears a cluster of about 50 bright white blooms. The contrasting bronze-red foliage provides an excellent backdrop to the blossoms. Not only does it have attractive red-bronze foliage, but its red seedpods add additional interest in the fall, and the cardinals love to eat them. I love to use these seed pods in fall arrangements.
'Husker Red' prefers slightly acidic soil and performs well in full sun to light shade.
You can see the Husker Red around this iris. It has great color.
Just another photo of an iris. The flowers have lasted a long time this year.
