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Herbaceous Perennial

Penstemon 'Purple Bedder'

penstemon 'Purple Bedder'

A semi-evergreen perennial up to 60cm high, with narrow green leaves, and dark purple flowers with maroon throats in summer

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing or East–facing

Exposure

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)

Botanical details

Family: Plantaginaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: 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 a dry winter mulch. See penstemon cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings, division, or layering

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Coastal
Mediterranean climate plants
Patio and container plants
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Pruning group 14 (Pruning herbaceous perennials); deadhead to encourage a longer flowering season; in cold areas in autumn, cut plants down to about a third of their height to prevent windrock but leave some protection from frosts; when new growth appears in spring cut out old flower stems

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free but may be susceptible to powdery mildews

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