Penstemon 'Midnight'
penstemon 'Midnight'
'Midnight' is a semi-evergreen perennial, the dark purple stems to 70cm high carry deep-green lance-shaped leaves and forms an upright clump. Profuse, tubular to bell-shaped deep purple-blue flowers flushed violet with a white throat heavily marked plum are carried through summer
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 | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Red Purple White | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical 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 plants overwinter with dry winter mulch
Propagation
Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer; propagate by division in spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Coastal
- Flower borders and beds
- Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Pruning
Deadhead after flowering to maintain vigour. Then cut back to base in early spring
Pests
May be susceptible to slugs, snails, glasshouse red spider mite, and leaf and bud eelworm
Diseases
Powdery mildews or a downy mildew may be a problem
Get involved
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