Duo of penstemons with purple foliage

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.