Penstemon heterophyllus 'Catherine de la Mare'

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  RHS Plants for Pollinators plants

  This plant will provide nectar and pollen for bees and the many other types of pollinating insects.

  It is included in an evolving list of plants carefully researched and chosen by RHS experts. Divided into 3 groups these lists, linked below, are maintained by a team of RHS staff and are reviewed annually.

  • Garden Plants
  • Wildflowers
  • Plants of the World

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. In cold areas, protect plant overwinter with a dry winter mulch. See penstemon cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Take softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer. Divide in spring or propagate by seed in late winter or spring; cultivars will not come true from seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

• Rock garden
• City and courtyard gardens
• Coastal
• Cottage and informal garden
• Gravel garden
• Wildlife gardens
• Wall side borders
• Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Best habit is encouraged by cutting back each year. Prune any winter damaged stems back hard to encourage fresh new growth from the base. After flowering, shorten flowered stems by half (unless seed is required) to encourage further flowering

Pests

Maybe susceptible to slugs, snails, aphids and leaf and bud eelworm

Diseases

May be affected by grey mould, powdery mildew and fungal leaf spot