Complementing Penstemon Husker Red: Selecting the Best Companion Plants

With its striking dark red foliage and elegant white blooms, Penstemon ‘Husker Red’ makes a dramatic statement in the garden. This perennial was named Perennial Plant of the Year in 1996 for good reason. Its versatility and low maintenance make it a standout choice for many garden settings.

When combining Husker Red with other plants it’s important to pick companions that will complement its best features. The right plant pairings can really allow this Penstemon to shine. In this article we’ll look at some of the top companion plants for Penstemon Husker Red and tips for gorgeous plant combinations.

Why Plant Companions for Husker Red?

Here are some key reasons to select complementary companions for Husker Red:

Accentuate its foliage and flowers – Choose companions with contrasting colors and textures that make Husker Red pop even more,
Attract pollinators – Many bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are drawn to Husker Red’s nectar-rich blooms. Planting additional pollinator-friendly companions will increase its value to wildlife.
Prolong season of interest – Combining plants with different bloom times extends the display.

Complement growth habit – Husker Red has an upright form that works well with lower-growinggroundcovers and mounding plants.
Repeat key colors – Combining plants with red and white flowers 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-blue blooms that complement Husker Red’s colors. Drought tolerant and attracts pollinators.
Coral Bells – Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ repeats Husker Red’s dramatic dark leaves. White flowers add contrast.
Garden Phlox – Try bushy ‘David’ phlox with bright white flowers and deep green foliage.

Purple Coneflower – Echinacea purpurea has sturdy reddish-purple blooms and lasts for months.

Annuals

Begonia – ‘Dragon Wing Red’ has scarlet flowers that match Husker Red’s foliage. It appreciates the same growing conditions.
Blue Salvia – ‘Victoria Blue’ salvia pairs nicely with Husker Red’s white blooms and red leaves.
Marigold – Try the red and white bicolor ‘Disco’ for complementary colors.

Zinnia – ‘Magellan White’ is mildew resistant and attracts butterflies.

Ornamental Grasses

Feather Reed Grass – Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ provides fine-textured vertical contrast.
Switch Grass – Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’ has burgundy foliage that coordinates well with Husker Red.

Groundcovers

Creeping Phlox – Phlox subulata forms a carpet of green foliage and pretty white, pink or purple flowers in spring.
Lamium – Lamium maculatum ‘White Nancy’ blends well with its silver and green leaves and white blooms.

Snow-in-Summer – Cerastium tomentosum has silvery fuzzy foliage and white flowers that pair nicely.

Design Tips for Combining Husker Red

When planting companions with Penstemon Husker Red, keep these design tips in mind:

Use groups of 3, 5 or 7 plants together for visual impact. Avoid single specimens dotted around.
Mix compatibly drought-tolerant plants to reduce watering needs.
Plant it near walkways or entries where its fragrant blooms can be enjoyed up close.

Combine Husker Red with plants of varying heights and habits for layered interest.
Repeat its striking flower and foliage colors in your combinations for harmony.
Set off its upright form with low-growing groundcovers and trailing plants.

Mass it as a backdrop to lower-growing flowering perennials and annuals.
Contrast its fine texture with bolder, broad-leaved companions like hostas.

Caring for Husker Red Companion Plantings

Here are some tips for keeping Husker Red and its companion plants healthy:

Provide at least 6 hours of sun for best growth and flowering. Morning sun is particularly important.
Garden in fertile, well-drained soil. Amend clay or sand as needed to create the ideal growing medium.

Water thoroughly only when the soil dries out. Overwatering leads to root rot.
Apply an organic mulch like shredded bark around plants to maintain soil moisture and temperature.
Stake tall perennials like garden phlox for extra support if needed.

Prune companions like catmint after flowering to encourage new growth and blooms.
Remove spent blooms to promote continuous flowering through the growing season.
Divide crowded clumps and rejuvenate companion plants every few years as needed.

Eye-Catching Companion Plant Combinations

Here are a few delightful plant pairings that allow Penstemon Husker Red to shine:

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 stunning floral display, Husker Red partners well with many plants. Choose companions with contrasting colors and textures to accentuate its assets. Thoughtfully combining Penstemon Husker Red with other perennials, annuals and grasses 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 native shrubs to provide structure ornamental appeal. Snowberry, red twig dogwood, ninebark, flowering currant, and serviceberry are some examples of plants that have beautiful flowers in the spring and summer that native pollinators like. Ninebark and red twig dogwood have the added appeal of colorful bark during the bleak winter months.

Beardtongue also works well in the herb garden alongside Mediterranean-type plants such as lavender, rosemary, sage, and thyme. Lavender and rosemary have smooth, silvery green leaves that look great with beardtongue’s soft pink and white flowers.

Annuals To Plant With Penstemon

Both hardy and hot weather annuals pair easily with beardtongue. In the spring, when it’s cooler, plant penstemon with annual baby’s breath, California and bread seed poppies, nigella, bachelor’s buttons, and larkspur. These plants often spread their own seeds, which makes them last longer in the garden. Later in early summer, add cosmos, cleome, pentas, and globe amaranth in colors coordinating with beardtongue. Annual plants also make good ground cover near beardtongue. These plants only grow shallow roots, so they won’t hurt other plants. They also keep the soil cool during the hot summer months by acting as a living mulch. Moss rose, sweet alyssum, and clarkia are all good plants to choose from.

Meet The Perennial Penstemon ‘Husker’s Red’

What does a Husker Red Penstemon look like?

Penstemons are sometimes commonly called beardtongues because the sterile stamen (staminode) can be hairy. ‘Husker Red’ typically grows 2-3′ tall. Features white (sometimes with a pink blush), two-lipped, tubular flowers borne in panicles atop erect, rigid stems. Flowers bloom mid-spring to early summer.

Is Husker Red a perennial?

‘Husker Red’ is a stunning, upright perennial boasting deep red to maroon leaves and stems. Its striking foliage is coupled with panicles of tubular, white flowers with a tinge of pale pink, offering a dramatic visual contrast. Native: The parent species, Penstemon digitalis, is native to North America.

What does a Husker Red Flower look like?

One or more erect flower stalks emerge from the clustered rosettes, developing abundant flowers in panicles on the rigid deep purple stems. ‘Husker Red’ is more floriferous than the species. The tubular white flowers are up to 1¼ inches long, resembling the finger of a glove, emerging from the calyx with short, narrowly triangular lobes.

Is Husker Red a hummingbird plant?

Uses: ‘Husker Red’ is ideal for perennial borders, mixed beds, and naturalistic or native plant gardens. Its striking foliage color and upright habit make it an excellent focal point or background plant. Pollinators: ‘Husker Red’ is attractive to various pollinators, especially bees, and hummingbirds, drawn to the nectar-rich flowers.