Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red' has red-flushed green foliage that turns an attractive burgundy-maroon in winter. 'Husker Red' forms an upright clump that is topped by spikes of tubular white flowers in early summer. It is very attractive to pollinators. An evergreen perennial, Penstemon 'Husker Red' was selected as the 1996 'Perennial Plant of the Year' by the Perennial Plant Association.
Commonly referred to as Beardtongue, Penstemon is an extensive genus of flowering plants native to North America. 'Husker Red' is a cultivar of Penstemon digitalis, which is native to most of the eastern two-thirds of the U.S.
Penstemon 'Husker Red' prefers full sun and well-drained gritty or sandy soil. It is tolerant of drought and coastal conditions.