Penstemon Digitalis (Scrophulariaceae)
Native to both North and South America, penstemon, sometimes called beardtongue, has a large distribution of about 250 species. It has been the subject to loads of breeding, creating plants in a wide range of shapes, sizes and flower colors. Many are bred from the larger flowered species from Central America and are not hardy for us. There is also a large selection of small alpine species from the western US that are used in rock gardens. Another horticultural wormhole. Currently we propagate P. digitalis ‘Husker’s Red’. Grown for its waxy, red green, clumping foliage that persists through the year, it flowers mid summer with white to pink flowers, but to me the foliage is what makes it a nice plant. Grows from 24”- 36”, likes a poor, well drained soil in a sunny location. Easy and nice!
Native to both North and South America, penstemon, sometimes called beardtongue, has a large distribution of about 250 species. It has been the subject to loads of breeding, creating plants in a wide range of shapes, sizes and flower colors. Many are bred from the larger flowered species from Central America and are not hardy for us. There is also a large selection of small alpine species from the western US that are used in rock gardens. Another horticultural wormhole. Currently we propagate P. digitalis ‘Husker’s Red’. Grown for its waxy, red green, clumping foliage that persists through the year, it flowers mid summer with white to pink flowers, but to me the foliage is what makes it a nice plant. Grows from 24”- 36”, likes a poor, well drained soil in a sunny location. Easy and nice!
Native to both North and South America, penstemon, sometimes called beardtongue, has a large distribution of about 250 species. It has been the subject to loads of breeding, creating plants in a wide range of shapes, sizes and flower colors. Many are bred from the larger flowered species from Central America and are not hardy for us. There is also a large selection of small alpine species from the western US that are used in rock gardens. Another horticultural wormhole. Currently we propagate P. digitalis ‘Husker’s Red’. Grown for its waxy, red green, clumping foliage that persists through the year, it flowers mid summer with white to pink flowers, but to me the foliage is what makes it a nice plant. Grows from 24”- 36”, likes a poor, well drained soil in a sunny location. Easy and nice!