About
A semi-evergreen perennial to 60cm tall with narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Spikes of funnel-shaped pale mauve-pink flowers with dark pink to maroon-splashed throats are borne from summer into early autumn.
About the 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
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitBushy
FoliageSemi evergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationGrow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or light shade in a position sheltered from frosts and drying winds; in autumn protect with a dry mulch; for more advice, see penstemon cultivation
PruningDeadhead to encourage a longer flowering season; in autumn, cut plants down to about a third of their height to prevent windrock but leave some protection from frosts; in late spring or early summer after new growth appears and after frosts are over, cut out old stems
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs and snails, and by leaf and bud eelworms
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free but may be susceptible to powdery mildews and grey moulds