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DAKOTA™ Burgundy Penstemon

Penstemon digitalis 'TNPENDB'

Nature Hills Nursery
$3481
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Plant Size

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: This perennial needs at least 6 hours of full, direct sun to maintain its deep purple foliage color. While it can handle partial shade, the stems may become floppy and the burgundy leaves will likely fade to a duller green.
  • Soil: Aim for lean, fast draining soil as this plant hates "wet feet" which can lead to root rot. If you have heavy clay, plant it in a raised bed or a mound of soil mixed with some pea gravel to ensure moisture moves away from the crown.

Watering Requirements

During the first growing season, water deeply once or twice a week to help the roots dive deep into the soil. Once established, this Penstemon is remarkably drought tolerant and generally only needs supplemental water during extended heat waves. If you overwater a mature plant, it may grow too quickly and fall over, so it is better to stay on the dry side.

Pruning Tips

This plant blooms on new wood, so you should cut the entire plant back to about 2 or 3 inches above the ground in very early spring before new growth appears. Think of it like a seasonal refresh that encourages a flush of tidy, dark foliage and plenty of flower spikes. You can also deadhead the spent lavender flowers in midsummer to keep the plant looking neat and potentially encourage a smaller second flush of blooms.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a light application of a balanced, slow release fertilizer once in the spring as new growth starts to emerge. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer because this stimulates soft, tender growth that won't be tough enough to survive the winter frost. In many cases, a simple one inch layer of compost spread around the base of the plant provides all the nutrients it needs.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4 Week of March 30th
Zone 5 Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12 Week of March 2nd


Shipping Rates

Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50 $9.99
$50 - $99.99 $14.99
$100 - $149.99 $16.99
$150 - $198.99 $24.99
$199+ FREE

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Gorgeous, dark purples and burgundy tones with glossy, dramatic foliage color, the DAKOTA™ Burgundy Penstemon, (Penstemon digitalis 'TNPENDB') will certainly stand out among the other green garden plants! Burgundy Penstemon are dramatic and highly saturated plants from the ground up! The deeply-hued burgundy foliage and dark burgundy stems are the perfect foil for the dramatic blooms that emerge all summer!

Also called Beardtongue, these upright perennials send up loads of bright rosy-violet and dark pinkish lavender-violet ombre, tubular flowers on 24-inch tall flower spikes and add great contrast to the glossy purple-black leaves! They attract loads of butterflies and Hummingbirds! You'll not be able to resist snipping a few of these blooms for vibrant floral bouquets.

Shorter and more compact, the rounded clumps are gorgeous in all garden styles and designs, and all sized areas! Vertical stems stand tall and sturdy throughout USDA growing zones 3 through 8 and are hardy and low-maintenance herbaceous perennials! Deer and rabbit-resistant, these hardy native cultivars tolerate lower moisture locations and drought-prone areas of your landscape and are fantastic Firewise landscaping plants!

Planting and Application:

Perennial beds and Rock Gardens are perfect for these, and the sturdy stems make gorgeous Cutting garden flowers! Once established, Burgundy Beardtongue only needs occasional watering once they are established and are great in urban Prairies, modern Meadows, and Wildflower gardens.

Classic English border and Cottage garden perennials, Penstemon are sized perfectly for all spaces, Penstemon are upright thrillers for containers and planters on porches and patios. Pair with spillers and fillers for wonderful seating area décor, a welcome front door planter, or add height in tall urns for formal accents on any sunny balcony, porch or patio!

En masse drifts of these dark, mysterious perennials add eye-catching swaths of color in both residential and commercial sites due to their resistance and hardiness. Everyone will do a doubletake as they pass your home with a facer border of Penstemon in front of your evergreen foundation planting. Or use it on a berm in your front yard or around your mailbox for fantastic curb appeal!

  • Lovely Lavender-Violet Tubular Blooms
  • Deep Dark Purple & Burgundy Stems & Leaves
  • Showy Blooms for Cut Flowers, Pollinators & Hummingbirds Galore
  • Hardy Upright Herbaceous Perennials
  • Tough & Long-Lived
  • Dramatic Specimen, Cold-Hardy Accents, Planters & Borders

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Penstemon DAKOTA™ Burgundy loves full sun and tolerates partial shade, especially in the hotter climates of its favored hardiness zones. Not particular on soil type, any well-drained soil that has consistent moisture works! Prune back mounds in the fall after frost has killed back the leafy stems and tops. Mulch around their crowns with 3-4 inches of arborist bark chips, and to maintain vigor, it's recommended to divide the mounds every few years.

  • Full Sun & Partial Shade
  • Average to Low Fertility
  • Well-Drained Soil & Appreciates Mulch
  • Regular to Low Moisture Needs
  • Heat, Cold, Humidity & Drought-Tolerant Once Established
  • Deer & Rabbit-Resistant

Low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and adaptable, these fast-growing perennials are heat and humidity-resistant! Order DAKOTA™ Burgundy Penstemon from Nature Hills and add these dramatic native selections to your garden!

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