Summit Sweets™ Ruby Beardtongue

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

14-16 Inches

Mature Spread

10-12 Inches

Growing Zones

5 to 8

Summit Sweets™ Ruby Beardtongue earns its spot by delivering true thriller height with ruby flower spikes that keep coming through the warm months. Penstemon hybrida 'Balsummru' grows 30–34 inches tall and 24–30 inches wide, so it brings instant vertical structure to beds and mixed containers without needing multiple plants to look substantial. That big, upright habit is what separates it from shorter penstemons that disappear once surrounding perennials fill in. The tubular ruby blooms are made for hummingbirds, and they also pull in bees and butterflies. 

Strong stems keep the display standing tall, which makes this beardtongue useful as a cut flower as well as a landscape anchor. It demonstrates heat and drought tolerance, blooming profusely in sunny gardens that don’t get daily attention. Summit Sweets™ Ruby is also a smart choice for pollinator-focused designs because it offers a steady nectar source from spring into summer. Use it behind lower mounding perennials, punctuate a long border with repeating spikes, or plant it as a centerpiece thriller in a large patio pot. We recommend it when you want a dramatic back-of-border plant that still feels manageable and refined.

Summit Sweets™ Ruby Beardtongue Care

Plant Summit Sweets™ Ruby Beardtongue in full sun for the stoutest stems and the heaviest flowering. Choose a site that drains well, and aim for a pH near neutral (about 6.5–7.5). Set the plant so the top of the root ball sits slightly above the surrounding soil line, then backfill and press gently to stabilize it. Water to establish roots, then reduce frequency as it settles in; this penstemon performs best when the soil dries between soakings. Feed once a month during the growing season, keeping fertilizer away from the crown.

Remove spent flower stems to encourage repeat blooming and to keep the plant looking sharp. Leave the basal growth intact going into winter, then cut back old stems in early spring once new growth is visible.

Summit Sweets™ Ruby Beardtongue Spacing

Space plants 26–32 inches apart so each clump has room to widen without crowding airflow around the stems. For containers, use a pot at least 16–18 inches wide if you want it to act as a true thriller. Pair it with black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Russian sage (Salvia yangii), and blue fescue (Festuca glauca) for a sunny, drought-tolerant mix that supports pollinators and keeps the planting balanced.

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