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Key characteristics

Family: Plantaginaceae
Height: 2-3 feet tall
Width: 1-2 feet wide
Flower color: Bright cherry-red tubular flowers
Foliage color: Deep green, lance-shaped leaves
Bloom time: Mid-summer through early fall
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low; deadhead spent blooms to prolong flowering and prune lightly in late winter or early spring
Growing zone: USDA Zones 7-9
Wildlife: Attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies

Perennials

Penstemon 'Cha Cha Cherry'

Cha Cha Cherry Beardtongue

Penstemon 'Cha Cha Cherry' is a vibrant perennial prized for its abundant cherry-red tubular flowers that bloom from mid-summer through fall. The blossoms are held on upright stems above a mound of green foliage, creating a lively display that attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The flowers' tubular shape and bright color make them particularly appealing for pollinator-friendly gardens.

This hybrid Penstemon variety is bred for improved hardiness and long-lasting blooms, making it a reliable choice for borders, containers, or mixed perennial plantings. With its extended blooming season and pollinator-friendly nature, 'Cha Cha Cherry' adds energy and vibrancy to sunny garden spaces.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Mid-summer through early fall

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Cottage Gardens
Pollinator Gardens
Hummingbird Gardens
Cut Flower Gardens

Companion plants

Bergenias · Sedums · Columbines · Lungworts · Daylilies · Japanese anemones

Design tip

Late flowers extend the season, so set it behind or beside plants that finish in midsummer. It takes sun or light shade, which makes it useful along the changing light of a bed edge or a partly shaded border.