Penstemon rupicola

RHS Plant Profile
rock penstemon

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rock penstemon RHS

Other common names

cliff beardtongue

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Shrubs

A creeping dwarf evergreen sub-shrub to 6cm in height, with small, rounded glaucous leaves and tubular, two-lipped rosy-pink flowers 3cm in length opening from late spring

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or North–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Plantaginaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Matforming
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
Correct
Plant Range
W North America

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in poor to moderately fertile, very gritty, well-drained soil in full sun. In cold areas, protect plant overwinter with a dry winter mulch. See penstemon cultivation for further advice The plant illustrated here is the cultivar 'Diamond Lake'

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Gravel garden
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens

Pruning

Deadhead after flowering to maintain vigour. Then cut back to base in early spring

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails, glasshouse red spider mite, and leaf and bud eelworms

Diseases

Generally disease-free