Dark Towers Penstemon
Penstemon 'Dark Towers'
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Dark Towers Penstemon - 5 Inch Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
| From | To | S&H |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
| $20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
| $50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
| $70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
| $100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
| $130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
| $150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Dark Towers Penstemon highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Pollinator Friendly
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Pollinator Required
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Fragrant
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodSummer
Growing Zones 3-8
Year-round color, we all need a little mystery in our lives! The Dark Towers Penstemon (Penstemon 'Dark Towers') brings an air of chic mystery to your garden even before it blooms! Dark Towers arouses interest first with its deep red foliage. Then, to draw you in, it bursts open striking two-toned, tubular flowers that bloom on tall stems in early and mid-summer.
Penstemon is a hardy native that blooms reliably when planted in a place it loves. Commonly called 'beard-tongue', the sweet blossoms are held on dainty spikes that start out light pink, with a darker pink tone at their base. The color combo plays beautifully off of the ox-blood-colored leaves. Evergreen in warmer climates and mild winters, this is a plant that will absolutely take your breath away!
Did we mention that Hummingbirds flock to Penstemon like ducks to water? Your garden will be alive with birds and butterflies! The native form of this plant is a larval Host Plant for many types of butterflies and moths. This variety is a newer cultivar that was chosen for its hardiness throughout USDA growing zones 3 through 9 and has improved color-fastness in the heat and humidity.
Planting and Application:
A little taller than others in this class, Dark Towers' deep colors blend well with other natives like Black-eyed Susan and Muhly Grass! Creating upright form and texture to Perennial mixed-garden displays, any wildflower, English Cottage border, include them in a Wildflower garden, updated Prairie, or naturalized-looking modern Meadow planting! Add to hummingbird and pollinator gardens, and in cut flower beds to enjoy the flutter of wings all summer, as well as vases full of these vivid blooms!
Plant around a sunny porch or patio, or as light screening around seating areas. Vibrant and low-maintenance when used in xeriscaping, en mass, and along sunny pathways and hell-strip locations are no problem. But these are hardy, compact, and drought tolerant once established, making them perfect for Fire-wise landscaping and Rock gardening.
- Light Pink to Dark Pink Blooms
- Dramatic Foliage Color!
- Wildlife Interest
- Upright Mounding Herbaceous Perennial
- Low Care & Hardy Native Selections
- Specimen, Pollinator & Prairie Beds, Cut Flowers & Borders
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Hardy and beautiful, Dark Towers is sure to please. Plant Penstemon in full sun and in well-drained soil conditions, preferring average soil types on the lean side. Provide regular moisture access throughout their first year, but once these herbaceous perennials are established, they are blissfully drought-tolerant and xeric! Provide a 3-4 inch thick layer of Mulch around their crowns, these are very cold tolerant, you can leave these seed heads as winter interest and attract songbirds, or deadhead them to tidy up the mounds in fall. Trim all foliage down late fall after frost, and divide every few years to maintain the vigor of the crown.
- Strongest Blooms in Full Sun
- Average to Low Moisture Needs
- Any Very Well-Drained Soil
- Xeric & Drought-Tolerant Once Established
- Deer & Rabbit-Resistant
- Heat & Humidity Tolerant
For incredible color, even when not in bloom, you can't beat Dark Towers as a great addition to your garden this year. Order your very own Dark Towers Penstemon today from Nature Hills Nursery before it's too late!
