About
An upright, semi-evergreen perennial to 90cm with narrow, dark green leaves and spires of bell-shaped, lilac flowers produced from mid-summer to 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, East-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitBushy
FoliageSemi evergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationGrow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. In cold areas, protect plants overwinter with a dry mulch. See penstemon cultivation
PruningDeadhead regularly or, after flowering, shorten flowered stems by half to encourage further flowering. Cut back to just above new shoots, or lowest healthy leaves, in spring after frost has passed
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in early summer, semi-hardwood cuttings in midsummer, or by division in spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs, snails and chrysanthemum eelworms
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews