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 | Purple White | Green | ||
| Autumn | 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 GB / Ireland
- 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
- Patio and container plants
- Wildlife gardens
- Flower borders and beds
- Cut flowers
Pruning
Remove spent flower spikes to help encourage a long season; cut all stems down to low-growing shoots in mid- to late MarchRegular 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
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