An upright, clump-forming perennial with a basal rosette of rather thick, shiny, bright green, lance-shaped leaves. Upright stems support smaller leaves and produce whorls of vivid blue, tubular flowers with hints of pink and purple, in late spring and summer
0.5-1 metres
0.1-0.5 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Grow in very well-drained soil in full sun. In cold areas, protect plant over winter with a dry mulch. See penstemon cultivation
Propagate by seed, by softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer
Regular deadheading can encourage a longer flowering season. In autumn, cut back to by about a third to tidy and reduce windrock, but leave enough to protect the crown over winter. In mid- to late spring cut back to lowest new shoots
May be susceptible to aphids and chrysanthemum eelworm
May be susceptible to Powdery mildews