About
Midnight' is a semi-evergreen perennial, the dark purple stems to 70cm high carry deep-green lance-shaped leaves and forms an upright clump. Profuse, tubular to bell-shaped deep purple-blue flowers flushed violet with a white throat heavily marked plum are carried through 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, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming
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, Coastal, Wildlife gardens, Gravel garden, Patio and container plants
Care notes
CultivationGrow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. In cold areas, protect plant overwinter with a dry winter mulch. See penstemon cultivation for further advice
PruningDeadhead after flowering to maintain vigour. Then cut back to base in early spring
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer; propagate by division in spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs, snails, glasshouse red spider mite, and leaf and bud eelworm
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews or downy mildews