Penstemon 'Precious Gem'
penstemon 'Precious Gem'
'Precious Gem' is a semi-evergreen perennial to 60cm tall with purple-bronze flushed stems above dense clumps of mid-green leaves, bronze when young and red in winter. Delicate tiers of tubular pale lavender flowers, flushed pink are borne in late spring or early summer
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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 | Purple | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Purple Pink | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical 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
- Cottage and informal garden
- Gravel garden
- Patio and container plants
- Wildlife gardens
- City and courtyard gardens
- 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 subject to a downy mildew, grey moulds, powdery mildews and a fungal leaf spot
Get involved
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