Penstemon 'Sweet Cherry' (Ice Cream Series)
penstemon 'Sweet Cherry'
'Sweet Cherry' (Ice Cream Series) is a semi-evergreen perennial to 60cm tall, with deep green slender leaves and upright panicles of tubular cherry red flowers with white throats, borne over a long period from summer to autumn
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Red White | Green | ||
| Autumn | Red White | Green | ||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
Penstemon may be deciduous or evergreen perennials or subshrubs, with simple, narrow leaves and racemes or panicles of bell-shaped or funnel-shaped flowers in summer and early autumn
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Penstemon cultivation in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. In cold areas, protect plant overwinter with a dry winter mulch
Propagation
Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-hardwood cuttings in midsummer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Coastal
- Gravel garden
- Wildlife gardens
- Flower borders and beds
- Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Pruning
Deadhead after flowering to maintain vigour and prolong flowering, then cut back to 15cm in late winter and early spring
Pests
May be susceptible to slugs, snails, aphids and leaf and bud eelworms
Diseases
May be subject to a downy mildew, grey moulds, powdery mildews and a fungal leaf spot
Get involved
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