why, thank you very much, birdlegs. although I can see it's past its prime, it gives me a very good idea how pretty this flower really is. I bought it in late may. I wonder now if perhaps it bloomed out in the pot in the nursery before that? if I get a minute today, I'll make and post a pic of the foliage. perhaps it was mislabelled and someone could say so.
thank you.

Birldlegs looks as if it was a pretty flower and one the hummingibrds would like to visit.

Here is one that shows a little better how pretty they are.

What a pretty flower Birdlegs! What's the red flower next to the husker red in the first picture? Sarah

beautiful shot and flower, birdlegs. thank you!

does this look like it, birdlegs?

Stan,
Here is the folage. My leaves look a lot slimmer. The colors look the same.
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I don't know what is eating holes in all my plants, but these look better than most others in this flower bed

Probably slugs I have them too plus japanese and june beetles that have practically eaten all my plants. Sarah

wow, the leaves are different. thanks, birdlegs. I'll keep an eye on this thing and report if it 'does' anything.
I wanted a 'red rocks,' but when the nursery stock arrived locally, they had these labelled as husker red.
does anyone recognize it specifically?
thanks.

Standard

That looks like Husker Red to me. That plant self seeds all over for us. I do see the hummingbirds visiting it. I think that you will like it. Birdleg's plant looks the same, just in a different stage of growth.

JP

thanks, jp, I appreciate it. when does yours bloom out? I wonder if this one will bloom this year? or if it already did before I bought it?

Standard,
Since mine is a 3 year old plant JD is most likely right. It blooms early summer up here. Yours will bloom next year for sure. Mine hasn't self seeded yet.

I've had this plant for a number of years and have never seen a hummingbird visit it, but that may be my bad timing. If you want to keep the red leaves look for seedlings with red leaves, and pull the rest. The only thing is, my one green-leafed plant has many more flowers. I'm not all that crazy about this plant. While its flowers are nice, its season is short. For a native south-eastern Penstemon I prefer penstemon smalli. It has a longer spring bloom, has put on a second lesser bloom now, and if last year is any indication will bloom again in September. Not that I've seem hummingbirds use it either, but I'm only one year into the smallii experiment. Another good point it that it seems like a decent part shade plant and may work in open woodland conditions.

Standard most of my penstemons have already bloomed except for two Here is my penstemon photo page. The first three pictures are penstemons still blooming. I This year I have only seen hummers use the Pinifolius. Sarah

Here is a link that might be useful: penstemons

WOW! incredible pictures, sarah! what is the purple one in the 4th picture? I can see why the hummingbirds would like the pinifolius. thank you.

Thanks, I think that's ovatus I bought that at the university of Delaware plant sale last year. It's the first one to bloom in the spring. Sarah

sorry I think it was barbutus not ovatus that one is blue

My mother gave me seeds from a penstemon and I have tiny burgundy seedlings with not a hint of green. Do you think these are Huskers Red? Do they come true from seed with the burgundy foliage?

Thanks
Ellen

Some do, that's why you pick the burgundy ones and compost the green ones