General Plant Information (Edit)
| Plant Habit: |
Herb/Forb
|
| Life cycle: |
Perennial
|
| Sun Requirements: |
Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
|
| Minimum cold hardiness: |
Zone 3 -40 °C (-40 °F) to -37.2 °C (-35)
|
| Maximum recommended zone: |
Zone 8b
|
| Plant Height: |
24 - 36 inches |
| Plant Spread: |
12 - 18 inches |
| Leaves: |
Unusual foliage color
Other: Full sun for best foliage color.
|
| Flowers: |
Showy
|
| Flower Color: |
White
|
| Bloom Size: |
Under 1"
|
| Flower Time: |
Late spring or early summer
Summer
|
| Uses: |
Cut Flower
|
| Wildlife Attractant: |
Bees
Birds
Butterflies
|
| Resistances: |
Rabbit Resistant
|
| Propagation: Other methods: |
Cuttings: Stem
|
| Awards and Recognitions: |
Other: 1996 Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year
|
- Foxglove Penstemon
- Penstemon
- Beard Tongue
- Pride of the Mountain
Posted by
BookerC1 (Mackinaw, IL - Zone 5a) on Jul 15, 2013 3:51 PM concerning plant:
The foliage of this plant is a deep burgundy-purple in the spring. As it matures, it turns green. Both green and purple foliage may be seen on the plant at the same time. The stems are also deep purple-burgundy, bearing delicate spikes of white bell-shaped flowers in the spring. This plant is stunning planted with Queen of the Night tulips and dark purple heuchera.
Posted by
ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Feb 17, 2018 7:52 PM concerning plant:
This is the most common cultivar of the Foxglove Beardtongue that is sold in the midwestern & eastern US. It is sold by most conventional nurseries. It differs from the mother species in having red-purplish foliage.
Posted by
dnrevel (Michigan - Zone 6a) on Mar 18, 2021 6:58 PM concerning plant:
Husker's Red is a plant that grew on me. It's a reliable perennial that withstands 6a cold winters well and spreads slowly. Year by year I find a new plant here and there, worthy to transplant to a new place where its lovely dark, contrasting foliage adds dimension to in mid-range and at the back of borders. It makes lovely cut flowers and foliage as well.
Posted by
SCButtercup (Simpsonville SC - Zone 7b) on Aug 25, 2014 4:42 AM concerning plant:
Maybe it's the heat or my poor soil, but this does tend to splay out and flop at the height of bloom. To remedy this, I use a small tomato cage set around the plant when it first comes up in the spring. When I've waited too long, I've also used a small tomato cage snipped in half to sort of wrap around the plant. The plant grows quickly in spring, so within a week the support is hidden.
Posted by
SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Jan 15, 2012 5:29 AM concerning plant:
The Beard-tongues (Foxglove Penstemon) that are native to the eastern United States are primarily rock outcrop species. They thrive on thin soil, good drainage, and open shade or full sun. While technically classified as perennials, excessive soil richness may result in a short life for a Penstemon. They receive their common name of Beard-tongue because of the tuft of yellow hairs just outside of the throats of the flowers. The flowers resemble delicate Snapdragons. Penstemon 'Husker Red' is the Perennial Plant Association's 1996 Perennial of the Year. It was selected and introduced by Dale Lindgren of the University of Nebraska for its wonderful coloring. Foliage all year long is green and bronze-purple. The flowers are all white on dark almost black stems, and the average height is around 30 inches.
Plant Events from our members
| gardengus |
On June 2, 2016 |
Bloomed |
| Catmint20906 |
On May 30, 2015 |
Obtained plant |
| MissMew |
On August 22, 2018 |
Transplanted
Moved to north side of pieris |
| MissMew |
On May 24, 2018 |
Obtained plant
Suzanne NVK |
| RoseA32 |
On May 3, 2020 |
Obtained plant
Jen |
| dnrevel |
On May 12, 2012 |
Obtained plant
Bought this plant and was lukewarm about it initially. In the years that followed, it grew on me. |
| GoTilly |
On August 8, 2023 |
Maintenance performed
Deadheaded, moldy leaves |
| GoTilly |
On June 11, 2023 |
Bloomed |
| GoTilly |
On June 14, 2022 |
Bloomed |
| GoTilly |
On June 9, 2021 |
Bloomed |
| GoTilly |
On April 8, 2021 |
Plant emerged |
| SuperHappyCamper |
On August 23, 2023 |
Obtained plant
Purchased from Pike's Nursery. |
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