Penstemon 'Music Maker' (Elgar Series)

RHS Plant Profile
penstemon 'Music Maker'

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Penstemon 'Music Maker' (Elgar Series)?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
penstemon 'Music Maker' RHS
Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial

A semi-evergreen perennial to around 60cm tall with narrow mid-green leaves and bell-shaped pink flowers, eachwith a paler pink throat borne on upright stems from summer into early autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

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, moist but well-drained soil preferably in full sun. In cold areas, protect plant overwinter with a dry winter mulch. See Penstemon cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by softwood or semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

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

Pruning

Deadhead after flowering to maintain vigour

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails and chrysanthemum eelworms but generally pest free

Diseases

May be susceptible to downy mildews