Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’ is an upright perennial featuring glossy bronze red foliage topped by spikes of light pink tubular flowers. This cultivar grows to 30” in height and is tolerant of the heat and humidity common to Chicago summers. Hummingbirds find it irresistible. All Penstemons are native to North America with the center of diversity found west of the Rocky Mountains where relative humidities are typically low. Most of these species feature very showy flowers but their susceptibility to diseases in a high humidity environment make them a challenge for most Chicago gardeners.