Riding Hood Red, also known as Spectabilis Schmidel or Beardtongue, is a perennial flowering plant native to the United States. This cultivar offers an upright, compact habit of 24-30" tall and 18-24" wide, with tubular red flowers blooming on green foliage all summer. Perennial in zone 5-9, this hardy plant thrives in full sun with occasional water. Bring hummingbirds and butterflies to cutting gardens, landscape borders, and containers by showcasing this classic wildflower or planting it in masses. Deer-resistant and drought-tolerant, Penstemon adds color and texture to the landscape. For a vibrant show of color, grow Red alongside Riding Hood Delfts Blue and Riding Hood Purple.
Riding Hood Red Selling Tips
Sell Riding Hood Red to customers looking for a low-maintenance perennial for a cutting garden or landscape border. This plant offers many benefits, including resisting deer, attracting pollinators, and tolerating drought. Trumpet-shaped flowers bloom in summer on upright, compact foliage. This perennial plant is hardy to zone 5, bringing color to sunny areas without adding to garden maintenance. Create an attractive landscape by growing Riding Hood Red alongside Panicum, Echinacea, Perovskia, and Sedum.
Coach Your Customer
1. Space plants 18-20" apart in well-drained soil in full sun.
2. Water once a week or more often in dry, hot weather and less often in rainy weather.
General Growing Tips For Your Rooted Cutting Liner
For best results with Riding Hood Red, plant one rooted plug per 6-inch container or three per 10-inch container. Start small containers in January and large ones in September. Use a well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5-7.0, average daytime temperatures of 70 degrees and nighttime temperatures of 50 degrees, and light feed (75-125 ppm N). This plant doesn't require pinching, PGRs, or vernalization. Move plants outdoors for more light intensity once temperatures are above 50 degrees at night. Grow this plant in full sun to avoid leaf spot and mildew, which can develop in the shade.
Flowering
Red flowers bloom in summer.
Pinching
This plant doesn't require pinching.
Spacing
Space containers for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base of each plant.
Height Control
This plant doesn't require PGRs.
Pests
This plant isn't prone to pests.
Disease
This plant isn't prone to disease when it grows in full sun. If this plant grows in the shade leaf spot and mildew can develop.
Planting Riding Hood Red Liners
We recommend planting one rooted liner per 6-inch or gallon container or three liners per 10-inch container. Use a well-drained soil and completely bury the ellepots centered or evenly spaced in the containers. One gallon and 6-inch containers finish in 12 weeks and should be started in January. Ten-inch containers take 30 weeks to finish and should be started in September for spring sales.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Penstemon Riding Hood Red Quick Reference Guide
4 Inch crop time
- Weeks
10 Inch crop time
- Weeks
Bloom Period
Summer
Color
Red
Habit
Upright
Height
24-30 Inches
Light
Full Sun
Minimum Temp
50
Perennial Zone
5-9
Water Needs
Light
Patented Plant
Yes
Current
Availability
Current Availability
01-19-2026 (Week 04)
0
01-26-2026 (Week 05)
0
02-02-2026 (Week 06)
0
02-09-2026 (Week 07)
0
02-16-2026 (Week 08)
0
02-23-2026 (Week 09)
0
03-02-2026 (Week 10)
0
03-09-2026 (Week 11)
0
03-16-2026 (Week 12)
1,100
03-23-2026 (Week 13)
600
03-30-2026 (Week 14)
0
04-06-2026 (Week 15)
400
04-13-2026 (Week 16)
0
04-20-2026 (Week 17)
300
04-27-2026 (Week 18)
1,800
05-04-2026 (Week 19)
2,400
05-11-2026 (Week 20)
2,400
05-18-2026 (Week 21)
2,400
05-25-2026 (Week 22)
2,400
06-01-2026 (Week 23)
1,100
06-08-2026 (Week 24)
2,400
06-15-2026 (Week 25)
2,400
06-22-2026 (Week 26)
1,700
06-29-2026 (Week 27)
2,400
07-06-2026 (Week 28)
2,400
07-13-2026 (Week 29)
3,600
07-20-2026 (Week 30)
800
07-27-2026 (Week 31)
200
08-03-2026 (Week 32)
4,800
08-10-2026 (Week 33)
4,800
08-17-2026 (Week 34)
4,800
08-24-2026 (Week 35)
300
08-31-2026 (Week 36)
0
09-07-2026 (Week 37)
0
09-14-2026 (Week 38)
0
09-21-2026 (Week 39)
0
09-28-2026 (Week 40)
0
10-05-2026 (Week 41)
0
10-12-2026 (Week 42)
0
Riding Hood Red, also known as Spectabilis Schmidel or Beardtongue, is a perennial flowering plant native to the United States. This cultivar offers an upright, compact habit of 24-30" tall and 18-24" wide, with tubular red flowers blooming on green foliage all summer. Perennial in zone 5-9, this hardy plant thrives in full sun with occasional water. Bring hummingbirds and butterflies to cutting gardens, landscape borders, and containers by showcasing this classic wildflower or planting it in masses. Deer-resistant and drought-tolerant, Penstemon adds color and texture to the landscape. For a vibrant show of color, grow Red alongside Riding Hood Delfts Blue and Riding Hood Purple.
Riding Hood Red Selling Tips
Sell Riding Hood Red to customers looking for a low-maintenance perennial for a cutting garden or landscape border. This plant offers many benefits, including resisting deer, attracting pollinators, and tolerating drought. Trumpet-shaped flowers bloom in summer on upright, compact foliage. This perennial plant is hardy to zone 5, bringing color to sunny areas without adding to garden maintenance. Create an attractive landscape by growing Riding Hood Red alongside Panicum, Echinacea, Perovskia, and Sedum.
Coach Your Customer
1. Space plants 18-20" apart in well-drained soil in full sun.
2. Water once a week or more often in dry, hot weather and less often in rainy weather.
General Growing Tips For Your Rooted Cutting Liner
For best results with Riding Hood Red, plant one rooted plug per 6-inch container or three per 10-inch container. Start small containers in January and large ones in September. Use a well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5-7.0, average daytime temperatures of 70 degrees and nighttime temperatures of 50 degrees, and light feed (75-125 ppm N). This plant doesn't require pinching, PGRs, or vernalization. Move plants outdoors for more light intensity once temperatures are above 50 degrees at night. Grow this plant in full sun to avoid leaf spot and mildew, which can develop in the shade.
Flowering
Red flowers bloom in summer.
Pinching
This plant doesn't require pinching.
Spacing
Space containers for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base of each plant.
Height Control
This plant doesn't require PGRs.
Pests
This plant isn't prone to pests.
Disease
This plant isn't prone to disease when it grows in full sun. If this plant grows in the shade leaf spot and mildew can develop.
Planting Riding Hood Red Liners
We recommend planting one rooted liner per 6-inch or gallon container or three liners per 10-inch container. Use a well-drained soil and completely bury the ellepots centered or evenly spaced in the containers. One gallon and 6-inch containers finish in 12 weeks and should be started in January. Ten-inch containers take 30 weeks to finish and should be started in September for spring sales.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Penstemon Riding Hood Red Quick Reference Guide
4 Inch crop time
- Weeks
10 Inch crop time
- Weeks
Bloom Period
Summer
Color
Red
Habit
Upright
Height
24-30 Inches
Light
Full Sun
Minimum Temp
50
Perennial Zone
5-9
Water Needs
Light
Patented Plant
Yes
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