Husker's Red Penstemon and Russian sage cuttings

How to Propagate Husker’s Red Penstemon and Russian Sage

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It’s that time of the year again. That time when I go out and take cuttings of everything I can. For today’s post I took 6 cuttings of a ‘Husker’s Red’ Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis) and 6 cuttings of Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia).

I picked up the ‘Husker’s Red’ Penstemon on the discount racks last year just as it was losing its flowers. Sometimes perennials find their way to the “Isle of Misfit Plants” just because they passed their peak bloom time and people think the show is over. Not so by any means, just like zombie movies: they come back! At least they do if they are perennials.

Propagating Husker’s Red Penstemon

Right now our ‘Husker’s Red’ is growing tall with new leaves which are the perfect leaves for making cuttings. To propagate Husker’s Red Penstemon I took cuttings from the stem tips with 2-4 leaves on each. I pinched off any leaves over that count and also pinched the growth tip also called the apical bud. This is where the growth hormones (auxins) reside.  The apical bud also inhibits the growth of competing stems below the tip.  By pinching off the tip I can encourage the plant to send out more stems to make a bushier plant.

Husker's Red Penstemon

I won’t go over the Russian sage cuttings in this post but you can look back at other Russian sage posts (see here for hardwood cuttings, see here for softwood cuttings) to see more about propagating them. Needless to say Russian sage is one of my favorite perennials due to its drought tolerance and animal hardiness. The deer and rabbits seem to avoid it due to its fragrance. Not a bad deal for the gardener!

17 thoughts on “How to Propagate Husker’s Red Penstemon and Russian Sage”

  5. More free plants! 🙂

    I have Husker’s Red, too, and that stuff is amazingly hardy and vigorous (though not invasive). It grows equally well in shade or sun, too (at least it does for me).

  9. I’m thrilled to find your blog via the landscaping challenge. We live in the same area, so it’s great to see what works for you will probably work for me.

    I’ve flower gardened for years, but this is our first real effort in landscaping a blank back yard and creating a raised bed/sustainable garden.

  10. Debbi,

    Those movies seem to come out every year, very much like perennials!

    Kate,

    Russian sage is great and it propagates very easily in the spring. Hardwood cuttings work too.

    Racquel and Janet,

    King Dave? Sounds like the sequel to King Ralph! Bad movie reference.

    Kylee,

    Husker’s Red is awesome en mass. I saw some at a nursery recently with a ton of plants all pushed together and it looked really neat. I could definitely see doing that in my yard except in the ground!

    Tina and Gail,

    Free is the best price of all. With plants free doesn’t follow the old saying “You Get What you pay for.” With propagating you get more than you paid for!

    DP,

    Glad to see you again! The sage isn’t actually a true sage, or salvia. Russian sage is a Perovskia. Of course you can make cuttings of any salvia just as easily!

    Meredith,

    I’m glad you found the blog! Are you in the Spring Hill area? Blank yards are challenges. That is where I started 2 years ago with this house and things are finally coming together. It sure makes life exciting though to see it all happen!

  11. I just bought this at the store today. I rushed home to your site to see if you have propagated the Huskers Red and how to do it. I'm glad I just bought one! Love your site and all the wonderful info. you provide.

  12. Sheery,

    Good luck with the cuttings! I have about 6 more rooting right now. It's a very cool plant and retains a lot of the coloring through the winter. Thanks for the compliment!

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