About
Penstemon 'Catherine de la Mare' is a named selection of Penstemon in the Plantaginaceae, valued for its summer display. As a member of the Penstemon genus it shares the group’s distinctive tubular, two-lipped flowers with a prominent sterile stamen (staminode). Flowering occurs from June to September. Identification in flower is helped by the often bearded palate and obvious staminode typical of beardtongues.
About the genus
Penstemon, the beardtongues, is a large genus of roughly 280 species of flowering plants native to North America from northern Canada to Central America. It is the largest genus of flowering plants endemic to North America. As well as being the scientific name, penstemon is also widely used as a common name for all Penstemon species alongside beardtongues.
Wikipedia contributors, "Penstemon", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Penstemon
In the garden
Penstemon 'Catherine de la Mare' belongs to the genus Penstemon, a large group of North American plants now placed in the family Plantaginaceae. The genus is characterised by two-lipped, tubular blooms that end in a five-lobed throat and by a distinctive infertile stamen or staminode; named selections such as 'Catherine de la Mare' are chosen for particular flowering traits within that framework. Flowering is reliably from June to September, providing a clear summer period in which its floral features are most obvious. Treat the plant as you would other Penstemon selections: allow the flowering structures to develop and be visible, and avoid burying the crown under heavy mulch which can obscure the base. Good air movement around the stems helps the flowers open cleanly and makes it easier to inspect the staminode and palate during peak bloom. Pruning back spent flowering shoots in late summer encourages tidy regrowth ahead of the following season. Use the cultivar where its summer display can be appreciated up close; its floral anatomy is easiest to examine at the height of bloom. The bearded staminode and throat detail are best checked when flowers are fully open in July and August, and they serve as a practical identification feature for the cultivar.
More in the Penstemon genus
- Penstemon 'Raven'Beardtongues
- Penstemon campanulatusbellflower beardtongue
- Penstemon campanulatus 'Andenken an Hahn'Penstemon
- Penstemon campanulatus 'Evelyn'Beardtongue
- Penstemon campanulatus 'Garnet'Penstemon
- Penstemon campanulatus 'Hidcote Pink'Beardtongue
- Penstemon campanulatus 'Pink Endurance'Beardtongue
- Penstemon cyananthusBlue Penstemon
