Husker Red Beardtongue

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2 Feet

Mature Spread

1-2 Feet

Growing Zones

4 to 8

Husker Red Beardtongue is a dazzling low-maintenance perennial that will stand out in a landscape. Deep red foliage has hints of purple and slightly bends at the midrib. The leaves grow in clumps on color-coordinated upright stems. Lovely white flowers with pink accents bloom from June through July and have a tubular structure and notched rounded edges. By fall, the Penstemon digitalis Husker Red goes to seed and serves as a food source for small birds.

This plant has upright stems and a mounded growth habit. Feature this beauty in beds, borders, or containers. Cover a foundation wall or add unexpected color to a landscape. Husker Red Beardtongue is a native plant, so give it time to acclimate, and this plant will not need much care. Butterflies and hummingbirds are drawn to the unique blooms. This easy-to-grow plant is a perennial in USDA zones 4 through 8.

Husker Red Beardtongue Care

Plant in partial to full sun. Water weekly, although plants in containers or warm climates will need water more frequently. Soil should be rich and well-drained. This plant is not a heavy feeder, especially in rich soil. A single application of balanced fertilizer each spring will support new foliage and blooms.

Remove the seed pods to prevent the plant from self-seeding, or leave the seed pods in place so they can serve as a food source for small birds. Trim the growth by one-third after the flowers fade and trim back all growth after the first frost. Divide the plant every few years as needed.

Husker Red Beardtongue Spacing

This upright plant will grow 24 to 30 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart to create a dense planting.