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Herbaceous Perennial

Penstemon 'Blue Riding Hood'PBR (Riding Hood Series)
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

penstemon 'Blue Riding Hood'

Has metallic blue blowers with a white throat. Compact well-branched cultivar growing about 60cm high.

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

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H4
Botanical details
Family
Plantaginaceae
Native to the UK
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

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. In cold areas, protect plant overwinter with dry winter mulch - see Penstemon cultivation for more details.

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer and semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer.

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Cut flowers
Pruning

Deadhead after flowering to maintain vigour. Then cut back to base in spring - see Penstemon cultivation

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails, glasshouse red spider mite, and leaf and bud eelworms

Diseases

Generally disease-free. May be susceptible to powdery mildews

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