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Herbaceous Perennial

Penstemon 'Strawberries and Cream' (Ice Cream Series)
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

penstemon 'Strawberries and Cream'

'Strawberries and Cream' (Ice Cream Series) is a semi-evergreen perennial to 60cm tall with slender dark green leaves and from summer to autumn pale pink tubular flowershave fine red stripes and a red throat are borne over a long period

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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 Red Green
Autumn Pink Red Green
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

West–facing or South–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H4
Botanical details
Family
Plantaginaceae
Native to the UK
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
  • Coastal
  • Gravel garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Deadhead after flowering to maintain vigour and prolong flowering then cut back to 15cm in late winter or early spring

Pests

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

Diseases

May be affected by a downy mildew, grey moulds, powdery mildews and a fungal leaf spot

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