About
A spreading, woody-based, semi-evergreen perennial to 50cm tall, with narrow, dull, bluish-green leaves. The pinkish-blue flowers, tubular with an open, lobed mouth are about 3cm long and produced in long spikes in summer and 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 moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitBushy
FoliageSemi evergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCoastal, City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Rock garden, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationGrow in moderately fertile, sharply-drained soil in full sun in a sheltered situation. May need a dry winter mulch in frost prone areas. Will tolerate some shade, but flowers less well. See penstemon cultivation
PruningDeadhead regularly, or after flowering shorten flowered stems by half, to encourage further flowering. Cut back to about 15cm in spring, after frost as passed, to maintain a compact shape
PropagationDivide in spring, or take softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer
Pest resistanceMaybe susceptible to slugs, snails, aphids and leaf and bud eelworm
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to grey moulds, powdery mildews and fungal leaf spot