Penstemon digitalis Dark Towers - Foxglove beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis Dark Towers - Foxglove beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis Dark Towers - Foxglove beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis Dark Towers - Foxglove beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis Dark Towers - Foxglove beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis Dark Towers - Foxglove beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis Dark Towers - Foxglove beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis Dark Towers
Foxglove Beardtongue, Smooth White Beardtongue
Planted one year ago, it has developed well since.
Sonia, 14/10/2025
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Description
The Penstemon 'Dark Towers' is a superb American variety related to the famous 'Husker Red', which surpasses with its larger size and darker foliage colour that does not fade during hot summers. This beautiful penstemon offers dark purple evergreen foliage with burgundy stems adorned with soft pink campanulate bell-shaped flowers with a dark pink base. This perennial plant is reliable and probably one of the hardiest penstemons in well-drained soil. Its elegant and delicate flowering is perfect for borders and flower beds from June to October. It can be grown in all gardens, in well-drained soil, in full sun.
The Penstemon digitalis belongs to the family of Scrophulariaceae, just like the foxglove with its similar flowers. But while the latter is European, the 'digitalis' penstemon is of American origin. It is mainly found in the eastern and southeastern United States, growing in dry areas such as meadows or open forests on well-drained, loamy or sandy soil. The variety 'Dark Towers' was obtained by Dr. Dale Londgren from the University of Nebraska, a specialist in Penstemon. It is said to be a cross between the 'Husker Red' variety and the Penstemon 'Prairie Splendor', both created by Longdren. 'Dark Towers' develops from a robust base, forming a basal rosette of large evergreen leaves with a shiny purple top and wine-red underside. In spring, leafy stems of burgundy colour rise, reaching a height of about 80 cm (32in). They bear numerous tubular flowers with a soft pink colour at the base and a dark pink, grouped in pairs. This variety is one of the hardiest in healthy soil and tolerates dry shade well.
The 'Dark Towers' penstemon is used in borders and perennial flower beds with agapanthus, caryopteris, Rhodoanthemum hosimariensis, and Cape daisies or mixed with annuals such as love-in-a-mist. Its delicate flowering complements the round corollas of old roses (Salet, Yolande d'Aragon). It can blend among the rocks in rock gardens (in slightly non-chalky soil) with rosemary, cotton lavenders, cistus, or wormwood. It also performs very well in pots, with proper drainage and regular fertilization. Penstemons also make excellent cut flowers.
Penstemon digitalis Dark Towers - Foxglove beardtongue in pictures
Flowering
Foliage
Plant habit
Botanical data
Penstemon
digitalis
Dark Towers
Scrophulariaceae
Foxglove Beardtongue, Smooth White Beardtongue
Cultivar or hybrid
Planting and care
The Penstemon digitalis 'Dark Towers' thrives in a sunny or partially shaded spot with light, rich, well-draining soil, whether dry or moist. This plant can tolerate both limestone and slightly acidic soil. It's easy to cultivate with minimal care, although it's not very tolerant of winter humidity. Fortunately, it's quite hardy and can endure temperatures as low as -30°C. It's important not to trim the plant at the end of the season since its semi-evergreen foliage helps regulate soil moisture. To prevent collar rot caused by excess moisture, it's possible to protect the base of the plant with dry mulch, such as a layer of dead leaves, sand, and crushed gravel, at the start of winter. You can plant it in either autumn or spring, but remember to fertilise it lightly when planting. Avoid fertilising it afterwards to prevent weak and floppy stems. Despite being relatively disease-resistant, Penstemons can still be susceptible to powdery mildew, downy mildew, and pests such as snails, slugs, and chrysanthemum nematodes.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
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In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.