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Duo of penstemons with purple foliage

Penstemon digitalis Dark Towers, Husker Red
Foxglove Beardtongue, Smooth White Beardtongue, Talus Slope Penstemon

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    Two different varieties of penstemons are distinguished by their purple-coloured foliage, as well as their magnificent summer flowering. The first variety offers floral stems adorned with numerous campanulate bells in two shades of pink, while the second variety blooms in a white-pink tone. These perennials are vigorous and highly resistant to cold in well-drained soil. They will bring grace, lightness, and sumptuous colours to your sunny flower beds and borders.
    Exposure
    Sun
    Hardiness
    Hardy down to -23°C
    Soil type
    Silty-loamy (rich and light)
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    Best planting time March to April
    Recommended planting time March to May, September to October
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    Flowering time June to July
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      Description

      This duo of Penstemon digitalis with purple foliage combines the 'Dark Tower' and 'Husker Red' varieties, undoubtedly the most rewarding for the gardener. These very hardy gentlemen combine dark foliage with a delicate yet generous flowering. Between June and July, they produce dark-coloured floral stems that bear bell-shaped flowers in a delightful range of pink hues. You can plant them in a sunny spot in a romantic, English-style flowerbed or a large flower border.

      This duo consists of:

      - 1x Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red': a variety that reaches 60 to 70 cm in height, with leaves coloured brownish-purple that turn slightly green in summer. The floral stems are also brownish-purple, with tubular flowers in a pinkish-white colour.

      - 1x Penstemon digitalis 'Dark Towers': a taller variety, reaching 80 cm in height when in bloom. Its foliage is darker than 'Husker Red' and remains more colourful in summer. The floral stems are burgundy and adorned with pale pink flowers with a dark pink base.

      Plant this duo of penstemons in a sunny spot in the garden, either in a flowerbed or a large flower border. These perennials tolerate cold winters very well if planted in light, well-drained soil that does not retain too much water in winter. A mixture of compost, garden soil, and coarse sand will suit them. A slightly raised flowerbed is ideal. Leave a spacing of 40 cm between each plant (5 plants per m²). The penstemons in this duo require reasonably rich soil and a little water in summer to flower abundantly.

      There are plenty of ideas for creating a large flowerbed, according to each gardener's taste. You can mix these penstemons with tall blue bellflowers, 'Flamingo' Gypsophila (pink), Lychnis 'Angel's Blush', and greater sea kale (Crambe cordifolia) in a large, English-style flowerbed that blooms for months. They also make excellent companions for pink or white roses. Once well-established, this solid and hardy duo only requires pruning the stems to 10 cm above the ground in March-April.

      Flowering

      Flower colour pink
      Flowering time June to July
      Inflorescence Spike
      Flower size 3 cm
      Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators
      Good for cut flowers Cut flower blooms

      Foliage

      Foliage persistence Semi-evergreen
      Foliage colour purple

      Plant habit

      Height at maturity 80 cm
      Growth rate normal

      Botanical data

      Genus

      Penstemon

      Species

      digitalis

      Cultivar

      Dark Towers, Husker Red

      Family

      Scrophulariaceae

      Other common names

      Foxglove Beardtongue, Smooth White Beardtongue, Talus Slope Penstemon

      Origin

      Cultivar or hybrid

      Product reference19464

      Other Perennial collections

      Planting and care

      Plant these plants in sunny, well-prepared, light, rich, well-draining soil in early spring or early autumn.

      Penstemon digitalis thrives in light, rich, well-drained soil that is not too wet in winter but does not dry out too much in summer. It tolerates a little limestone, and slightly acidic soil is also suitable. These plants are easy to grow and only require a little care due to their relative intolerance of winter humidity. They are truly hardy, tolerating temperatures down to around -30°C. Do not prune the clump at the end of the season, as its semi-evergreen foliage regulates soil moisture. It is possible to mulch the base at the start of winter with a dry bed of dead leaves, crushed sand, and gravel to improve drainage and prevent crown rot caused by excess moisture. Light fertilisation at planting is beneficial, but it should be avoided afterwards, as this could result in Penstemon having overly spindly, loose stems. Although fairly disease-resistant, Penstemon can be prone to powdery mildew and attacked by snails, slugs and chrysanthemum nematodes.

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      Planting period

      Best planting time March to April
      Recommended planting time March to May, September to October

      Intended location

      Suitable for Meadow
      Type of use Border, Edge of border
      Hardiness Hardy down to -23°C (USDA zone 6a) Show map
      Ease of cultivation Amateur
      Planting density 5 per m2
      Exposure Sun
      Soil pH Any
      Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)
      Soil moisture Moist soil, light, rich, well-drained

      Care

      Pruning instructions Once frosts are no longer a threat, the stump should be cleaned in early spring by pruning to 10 cm. This refreshment will encourage branching and flowering. Remove wilted flowers as you go along, cutting off the flower spikes to induce a second wave of flowers and keep the plant vigorous and compact.
      Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
      Pruning time March to April
      Disease resistance Good
      Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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