Husker Red Penstemon
Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red'
flowerHusker Red is a striking native beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) selected for its deep wine-red foliage and stems, which set off spikes of white, pink-flushed, bell-shaped flowers in late spring and early summer. A 1996 Perennial Plant of the Year, it forms a tidy 2 to 3 ft clump and is tough, adaptable, and long-lived. The tubular flowers are tailored to native bees - especially long-tongued and mason bees - and are also visited by hummingbirds, making it one of the best early-summer natives for pollinator support before the high-summer flowers open.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 5 days
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Bloom
~75 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
12-24 in. apart
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Planting Depth
Crown at soil line
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Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Well-draining loam
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 8
When to Fertilize
Light feed in spring
Fertilizer
Balanced or compost; low needs
🌱 Growing Guide
Plant Husker Red in full sun (it tolerates light shade, though the red foliage colors best in sun) in fertile, well-drained loam, clay loam, or sandy soil; avoid wet, poorly drained sites, which cause root rot. Space plants 1 to 2 ft apart. It is drought-tolerant once established and needs little fertilizer. After bloom you can cut the flower stalks back, or leave them to form seed capsules that self-sow and feed birds. Divide every few years in spring to keep clumps vigorous.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care — they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Feb 18
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 15
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Projected first bloom
Jun 29
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- May Night Salvia — Blooms in the same late-spring window and together feed early-season bees
- Walker's Low Catmint — Lavender haze that complements the white spikes and red foliage and draws bees
- Moonbeam Coreopsis — Takes over the bloom as penstemon finishes, extending the nectar season
- Purple Coneflower — Follows in midsummer while sharing the sunny, well-drained site
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
The main risk - plant only in well-drained soil and never let the crown sit in wet ground
Protect new spring growth with grit or traps in damp weather
Rotate planting sites and keep plants vigorous; rarely a serious problem in healthy soil
🌸 Blooms & cutting
Penstemon makes an elegant cut flower with its tall spikes of white bells against red stems - cut when the lower florets open, in the cool morning. In the garden, you can deadhead after the main bloom to tidy the plant, or leave the seed capsules to ripen for self-sowing and to feed small birds. The wine-red basal foliage stays attractive all season after the flowers finish.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Foxglove beardtongue is a premier native bee plant: its tubular white flowers are built for long-tongued bees and mason bees and supply abundant early-summer nectar and pollen, with hummingbirds visiting as well. It supports specialist pollinators when relatively few other natives are blooming, and as a host plant it feeds the caterpillars of several moths, adding to its wildlife value.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.