Penstemon
Beard Tongue
Among the most exuberantly blooming plants this side of the Mississippi, Penstemon are part of the enchantment of the West. A member of the Snapdragon family, even cultivated varieties retain a natural air, with dainty, long trumpet flowers and 5 (pent) prominent stamens. Sturdy and easily maintained, species usually range from 1 to 3 ft. tall, and vary in color from white to pink to purple to deep wine red to blue—one for every sunny spot. Trim after the first bloom to encourage a repeat flowering, and cut back in autumn for strong growth next season.
Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’ (P-1944)
Each 10.50
Well-respected Penstemon breeder Dale Lindgren of the University of Nebraska originally bred ‘Husker’s Red’ and now he brings us ‘Dark Towers’, a remarkable Penstemon ‘Husker’s Red’ and Penstemon ‘Prairie Splendor’ prodigy. A vast improvement over his initial introduction, this resolute hummingbird hero delivers darker lance-shaped, plush burgundy foliage and rigid deep purple stems plus regal upright towers, which are openly arranged with abundant tubular pink flowers. The ultrahardy low-maintenance clump can be added to borders, cottage gardens or informal settings, maintaining its opulent coloration during warm summer weather, but pouting in poorly drained soil. (PP#20,013)
Blooms May–June
Size: 2' 0" – 3' 0" high x 12" – 2' 0" wide.
Hardy to zone 3.
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Other selections in this genus:
- Penstemon ‘Alice Hindley’
- Penstemon ‘Bev Jensen’
- Penstemon ‘Blackbird’
- Penstemon ‘Blue Midnight’
- Penstemon sp. (chiapas x ‘Hidalgo)’
- Penstemon ‘Elizabeth Cozzens’’
- Penstemon ‘Enor’
- Penstemon ‘Firebird (Ruby/Schoenholzeri)’
- Penstemon ‘Garnet’
- Penstemon ‘Geoff Hamilton’
- Penstemon ‘Ghent Purple’
- Penstemon ‘Gilchrist’
- Penstemon gloxinioides ‘White Bedder’
- Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Züriblau’
- Penstemon ‘Hidcote Pink’
- Penstemon ‘King George V’
- Penstemon x x mexicali ‘Pike’s Peak Purple’
- Penstemon x mexicali ‘Psmyers’
- Penstemon x mexicali ‘Red Rocks’
- Penstemon x mexicali ‘Sunburst Amethyst’
- Penstemon x mexicali ‘Sunburst Ruby’
- Penstemon ‘Port Wine’
- Penstemon ‘Purple Tiger’
- Penstemon ‘Raven’
- Penstemon ‘Schoenholzeri’
- Penstemon ‘Stapleford Gem’
- Penstemon ‘Thorn’
- Penstemon ‘Violet Kissed’
- Penstemon virgatus ‘Blue Buckle’