Photos thanks to Midwest Groundcovers.

1996 Perennial Plant of the Year®

The Perennial Plant Association announced that its members chose Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ as the 1996 Perennial Plant of the Year®.

Commonly called Beardtongue, Penstemon is a large native genus found over large areas of the US and Canada, especially in drier locations. It contains a wealth of flower colors and sizes, plant heights, and growth habits. Penstemon digitalis is native to open woods, prairies, and fields from South Dakota to Maine and is naturalized in several eastern Canadian provinces.

‘Husker Red’ is a white-flowered, red-foliaged form of P. digitalis that was selected and introduced in 1983 by Dr. Dale Lindgren, University of Nebraska. It is a versatile garden perennial, valuable as a specimen, or as a cut flower. When plants are well established, height averages about 30 inches, with as many as 50 white flowers on each of 20 or more open, airy, flower stalks during July and August. Perhaps ‘Husker Red’s’ most valuable attribute is the rich, bronzed foliage which provides striking contrast with the masses of white flowers.

‘Husker Red’ prefers well-drained soils that are slightly acidic. Soils that are well drained during the winter help to extend its life. Plants thrive in full sun to light shade. ‘Husker Red’ is normally purchased as a potted plant. At planting, loosen the soil in an area 2-3 times the diameter of the pot. Thoroughly work a complete fertilizer, such as a 10-6-4 or a 10-10-10, at the rate of 2-3 lbs/100 square ft. into the top 6-8 inches of soil in the planting area. In addition, 4-6″ of leaf mold or other organic compost can be spread over the planting area and thoroughly worked into the soil to the same depth. Composts are particularly valuable in improving soil structure and increasing water holding capacity during summer dry periods. Finally, remove the plant from the pot and set it at the same depth as in the pot. Firm the soil around the plant and water in thoroughly.

In the landscape,’Husker Red’ can be massed at the back of the perennial border or used as a specimen plant. Its open, airy, and upright architecture adds a touch of elegance to the summer garden. ‘Husker Red’ is very effective in combination with a wide variety of plants including the rich green foliage of Delphiniums or Veronica ‘Sunny Border Blue’; the delicate pink of Geranium ‘Biokovo; and contrasts well with the open, airy texture of Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’. ‘Husker Red’ is also effective with silver-foliaged plants like Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ and Achillea ‘Moonshine’.

Photos thanks to Jon Peter, Royal Botanical Gardens

---

PLANT DATA

Hardiness
USDA Zones 3 to 8

Light
Full sun preferred

Size
30 inches tall

Soil
Well-drained garden soil