The Perennial Plant Association has chosen Penstemon digitalis `Huskers Red' as the 1996 Perennial Plant of the Year.
     Penstemons, commonly called beard-tongues, are one of the largest groups of wild flowers in the western United States. There are around 230 species in this genus. The genus Penstemon belongs in the family Scrophulariaceae or snapdragon family. Other familiar genera in this family are Veronica, Verbascum (mullein), Castilleia (Indian paintbrush) and Antirrhinum (snapdragon).
     Penstemon digitalis is native to the open woods, prairies and fields from Iowa to Maine. As a child, I remember digging up this penstemon in a meadow not far from our home in Sioux City Iowa, and bringing it home to show my mother. Unlike a few of the plants that I discovered and brought home, this plant was a nice addition to the perennial border It grew 2 feet tall and had white flowers and dark green foliage 'Husker Red' is a white flowered, red- foliaged form of P digitalis that was selected by Dr. Dale Lindgren at the University of Nebraska. It is a tough garden perennial, valuable as a specimen plant in the newer border. During July and August, when the plants are well established, you can expect as many as 20 or more open and airy flower stalks, each containing 50 or more flowers Even more impressive than all these flowers are the bronze red leaves.
      In the landscape, 'Husker Red' can be massed at the back of the perennial border or combined with ornamental grasses. It also combines well with Delphiniums, Veronica 'Sunny Border Blue', and the soft pink of Geranium 'Biokova'. Like many other plants with reddish foliage, `Husker Red' is effective with silver-foliaged plants like Artemesia'Powis Castle' and Achillea'Moonshine'
     This penstemon prefers full sun to light shade and well-drained (especially inthe winterf soil that is slightly acidic.
     The best way to propagate 1Husker Red' is by division in early Spring before the shoots emerge.
     Happy Gardening.
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