Penstemon, Foxglove Beard Tongue, Pride of the Mountain, Smooth Penstemon, Talus Slope 'Dark Towers'

'Dark Towers' is a seed strain developed by Dr. Dale Lindgren, a mathematician turned horticulturist, from the University of Nebraska. It...Read More represents a further development of 'Husker Red', which he also bred. 'Dark Towers' has deeper, more consistent burgundy foliage and pink-tinged flowers. It is also slightly taller.

Penstemon digitalis is one of the few penstemons that's long-lived in eastern N. America, where it's native. It needs only ordinary garden conditions and not rock-garden soil. Self-sows here more than I'd like, but it's a decent garden plant that makes a decent evergreen groundcover. The flowers are nice but the season of bloom lasts only about two weeks here in Boston MA Z6a. The seed capsules and stems are ornamental into the winter. The foliage has excellent scarlet fall color, and the evergreen basal foliage turns deeper maroon in winter.

This is a lovely variety of penstemon. The foliage is very dark and glossy. It has a strong upright habit and long bloom period. The f...Read Morelowers are white, or nearly white, with a lavender blush. Quite pretty.

Second year, and only two plants, but they are both large and beautiful and look quite striking in the perennial border. Great dark burgu...Read Morendy foliage, stands out beautifully against a green backdrop; pale pink/white tinged flower. Plants are growing strong so far, getting about 5-6 hours of sun; no staking has been required. Each plant is about 3 ft tall and about half as wide and each one holds its own in a border where other perennials (agastache, coneflower, coreopsis, etc) are in large groupings. So far I highly recommend it.

This plant is about 30 inches high, gets sun most of the day. It is its second year in my garden and looking good all season.