About
An upright, clump-forming perennial with a basal rosette of rather thick, shiny, fresh 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.
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
Soil typeLoam, Chalk, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Gravel garden, Wildlife gardens
Native toUSA (Colorado)
Care notes
CultivationGrow in very well-drained soil in full sun. In cold areas, protect plant over winter with a dry mulch. See penstemon cultivation
PruningRegular 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
PropagationPropagate by seed, by softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids and chrysanthemum eelworm
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to Powdery mildews