We all have favourite colours, even though all colours are favourites in garden flowers and they all “go together” like nowhere else.

One of my favourites is red. We will have three stunning red perennials available for purchase at the Okanagan Xeriscape Association’s upcoming annual spring plant sale—Penstemon “Riding Hood Red,” Achillea “New Vintage Red,” and Echinacea “Red Ombre.”

These perennials offer gardeners a perfect combination of drought-tolerance and vibrant colour that can transform any water-conscious landscape from ho-hum to spectacular.

Penstemon is a North American native plant often called Beardtongue, but it’s usually purple. This has been cultivated into the spectacular “Riding Hood Red” variety that brings dramatic crimson tubular blooms to the garden from late spring through summer.

Growing 24 inches to 30 inches tall with a compact habit, this cultivar produces a profusion of ruby-red flowers on sturdy stems above glossy, lance-shaped foliage.

What makes “Riding Hood Red” exceptional is its remarkable drought tolerance once established. Its deep taproot system efficiently mines soil moisture, allowing it to thrive in poor, rocky soils where many other perennials struggle.

This extensive root system also provides excellent erosion control on slopes and banks. Hummingbirds find the tubular blooms irresistible, creating a garden that’s not just water-wise but bird-friendly.

The deer-resistant quality of penstemons........

© Castanet