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Herbaceous Perennial

Penstemon 'Juicy Grape' (Ice Cream Series)
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

penstemon 'Juicy Grape'

a semi-evergreen perennial to 80cm tall with slender mid-green leaves and large cerise-pink to purple tubular to bell-shaped flowers with a pale throat from summer to autumn

Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Pink Purple White Green
Autumn Pink Purple White Green
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

South–facing or East–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H4
Botanical details
Family
Plantaginaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
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

Unresolved

How to grow

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

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
  • 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 early spring

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails, aphids and leaf and bud eelworms

Diseases

May be suseptible to downy mildews, grey moulds, powdery mildews and a fungal leaf spot

Get involved

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