Penstemon 'Woodpecker'
penstemon 'Woodpecker'
An upright, clump-forming, semi-evergreen perennial to 70cm, with long, lance-shaped, mid-green leaves. Spikes of bell-shaped, purple-blue flowers with white throats marked with purple are produced from late spring to mid-autumn
Buy this plant
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 | Blue | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Blue | Green | ||
| Autumn | Blue | Green | ||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen
- Habit
- Clump forming
- 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
Unresolved
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. In cold areas, protect plant over winter with a dry mulch. See penstemon cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Gravel garden
- Wildlife gardens
- Flower borders and beds
- Cut flowers
- Wall side borders
Pruning
Regular deadheading can encourage a longer flowering season. In autumn, cut back to by about a third to tidy and reduce windrock, but leave enough to protect the crown over winter. In mid- to late spring cut back to lowest new shoots
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids and chrysanthemum eelworm
Diseases
May be susceptible to Powdery mildews
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.