With its striking sinister red foliage and graceful livid blooms , Penstemon ‘ Husker Red ’ lay down a spectacular statement in the garden . This perennial was named Perennial Plant of the Year in 1996 for right grounds . Its versatility and low sustenance make it a standout choice for many garden mount .
When meld Husker Red with other industrial plant it ’s important to peck companions that will complement its good feature film . The good plant pairing can really allow this Penstemon to shine . In this article we ’ll face at some of the top fellow traveller plant for Penstemon Husker Red and tips for gorgeous works combinations .
Why Plant Companions for Husker Red?
Here are some key reasons to pick out complementary companions for Husker Red :
emphasise its foliation and flowers – Choose comrade with contrasting colors and textures that make Husker Red toss off even more ,
Attract pollinators – Many bees , butterfly , and hummingbird are drawn to Husker Red ’s nectar - full-bodied blooms . Planting extra pollinator - well-disposed companions will increase its value to wildlife .
Prolong time of year of sake – flux plant with dissimilar blooming time extends the video display .
Complement growth habit – Husker Red has an upright course that works well with abject - growinggroundcovers and mounding plants .
Repeat key colors – Combining plants with ruby-red and white flush and foliage creates a cohesive look .
Best Companion Plants for Husker Red
Here are some excellent options for plant pairings with Penstemon Husker Red :
Perennials
Catmint – ‘ Walker ’s Low ’ has lavender - dreary blooms that complement Husker Red ’s color . drouth patient of and attracts pollinators .
Coral Bells – Heuchera ‘ Palace Purple ’ repeats Husker Red ’s dramatic dark leaves . White flower add direct contrast .
Garden Phlox – Try shaggy-haired ‘ David ’ phlox with bright white flowers and thick dark-green foliage .
Purple Coneflower – Echinacea purpurea has sturdy red - purplish bloom and lasts for months .
annual
Begonia – ‘ Dragon Wing Red ’ has ruby flowers that match Husker Red ’s foliage . It take account the same growing circumstance .
Blue Salvia – ‘ Victoria Blue ’ salvia pair nicely with Husker Red ’s white blooms and violent leave of absence .
Marigold – Try the crimson and white bicolor ‘ Disco ’ for complemental color .
Zinnia – ‘ Magellan White ’ is mildew resistant and attracts butterflies .
cosmetic sens
Feather Reed Grass – Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘ Karl Foerster ’ provides fine - textured upright line .
Switch Grass – Panicum virgatum ‘ Shenandoah ’ has burgundy foliation that coordinates well with Husker Red .
Groundcovers
Creeping Phlox – Phlox subulata forms a rug of light-green leaf and passably white , pinkish or purple flowers in spring .
Lamium – Lamium maculatum ‘ White Nancy ’ blends well with its silver and green leaves and blanched blooms .
C. P. Snow - in - Summer – Cerastium tomentosum has silvery fuzzy foliage and snowy flower that couple nicely .
Design Tips for Combining Husker Red
When embed companions with Penstemon Husker Red , keep these excogitation tips in nous :
Use groups of 3 , 5 or 7 plants together for visual wallop . Avoid single specimens dot around .
Mix compatibly drouth - tolerant plants to reduce watering needs .
implant it near walk or entries where its fragrant blooms can be delight up near .
Combine Husker Red with plants of varying heights and habits for superimposed interest .
Repeat its outstanding flower and foliage colors in your combination for harmony .
Set off its unsloped bod with low - raise groundcovers and trail plants .
Mass it as a background to lower - growing flowering perennials and annual .
counterpoint its fine texture with bolder , broad - leave alone fellow traveller like hostas .
Caring for Husker Red Companion Plantings
Here are some tips for keeping Husker Red and its familiar plants tidy :
Provide at least 6 hour of sunlight for good growth and unfolding . Morning Lord’s Day is particularly crucial .
Garden in fertile , well - drained soil . Amend clay or backbone as needed to create the ideal growing mass medium .
Water thoroughly only when the soil dries out . Overwatering leads to root rot .
hold an organic mulch like shredded barque around plants to exert soil moisture and temperature .
stakes magniloquent perennials like garden phlox for supererogatory support if want .
Prune companions like catmint after flowering to encourage new ontogenesis and flush .
Remove drop blooms to boost uninterrupted flowering through the growing season .
part crowded clumps and rejuvenate companion plants every few years as call for .
Eye-Catching Companion Plant Combinations
Here are a few delightful plant pairings that admit Penstemon Husker Red to smoothen :
Husker Red , Walker ’s Low Catmint , Karl Foerster Grass
Husker Red , Palace Purple Coral Bells , White Marigolds
Husker Red , Shenandoah Switch Grass , Dragon Wing Red Begonias
Husker Red , Disco Marigolds , Victoria Blue Salvia
Husker Red , Karl Foerster Grass , Creeping Phlox
With its adaptable nature and sensational floral presentation , Husker Red partners well with many industrial plant . pick out fellow traveller with contrasting colour and textures to accentuate its asset . Thoughtfully combining Penstemon Husker Red with other perennial , annuals and skunk will create a standout garden showcase .
Shrubs To Plant With Beardtongue
Beardtongue is most at home in a naturalistic and wildlife - friendly garden design . The design for a meadow planting can begin with aboriginal bush to provide structure ornamental ingathering . Snowberry , red sprig dogwood , ninebark , flowering currant bush , and shadblow are some model of plants that have beautiful heyday in the spring and summer that native pollinators like . Ninebark and red twig dogwood have the tote up appeal of colorful barque during the bleak winter months .
Beardtongue also works well in the herb garden alongside Mediterranean - type flora such as lilac , rosemary , sage , and thyme . Lavender and rosemary have tranquil , silvery greenish leaves that appear great with beardtongue ’s soft pink and ashen flowers .
Annuals To Plant With Penstemon
Both intrepid and hot conditions annuals couple easy with beardtongue . In the natural spring , when it ’s cooler , plant genus Penstemon with annual infant ’s breath , California and bread seed poppies , nigella , bachelor ’s button , and larkspur . These plant often spread their own seed , which make them last longer in the garden . subsequently in former summer , add cosmos , cleome , pentas , and globe amaranth in colors coordinating with beardtongue . Annual plants also make good land hatch near beardtongue . These plants only grow shallow base , so they wo n’t ache other plants . They also keep the territory cool during the hot summertime months by pretend as a living mulch . Moss rose , sweet genus Alyssum , and clarkia are all good plant to choose from .
Meet The Perennial Penstemon ‘Husker’s Red’
What does a Husker Red Penstemon look like ?
Penstemon are sometimes commonly called beardtongues because the sterile stamen ( staminode ) can be hairy . ‘ Husker Red ’ typically grows 2 - 3′ tall . Features blank ( sometimes with a pinkish blush ) , two - lipped , tubular peak borne in panicle atop erect , rigid stems . Flowers bloom mid - natural spring to early summer .
Is Husker Red a perennial ?
‘ Husker Red ’ is a sensational , upright perennial boasting mysterious Bolshevik to maroon leaf and staunch . Its striking leaf is coupled with panicles of tubular , whitened blossom with a tinge of pallid garden pink , offer a dramatic visual contrast . Native : The parent coinage , Penstemon digitalis , is native to North America .
What does a Husker Red Flower look like ?
One or more erect flower stalk emerge from the clustered rosette , developing abundant flowers in panicles on the rigid bass violet stems . ‘ Husker Red ’ is more floriferous than the species . The tubular snowy efflorescence are up to 1¼ inches long , resemble the finger of a glove , emerge from the calyx with short , narrowly triangular lobes .
Is Husker Red a hummingbird plant ?
United States of America : ‘ Husker Red ’ is idealistic for perennial borders , sundry beds , and naturalistic or aboriginal works garden . Its striking leaf color and upright habit make it an excellent focal point or screen background plant . Pollinators : ‘ Husker Red ’ is attractive to various pollinators , specially bees , and hummingbird , suck to the nectar - rich flowers .
