Kaleidoscope of colour with bells galore on
They look a bit like small foxgloves, but penstemons have a lot more going for them, particularly colour – and now is as good a time as any to get more for nothing.
Unlike many perennials, they may not divide easily, but stem-tip cuttings are a simple way to propagate them, so go for it.
Penstemons are vigorous, mostly frost-hardy and come in both evergreen and semi-evergreen forms, and their abundance of bell-shaped flowers make for an eye-catching display in July, August and even September; plus, bees adore them for their plentiful supply of nectar.
These are plants that are at their best in herbaceous borders but there’s nothing to stop anyone from growing them where the sun shines and the soil is fertile and welldrained.
The best way to make sure that penstemons keep flowering is to dead-head them regularly, and it’s equally important to prune them annually to stop them from growing woody and lank.
In early May, when the worst of winter has, hopefully, gone, trim them back.
When new shoots appear at the base, remove the old flower spikes and take a few cuttings because there is one major problem with penstemons – they have a bad habit of disappearing. One year they flower wonderfully; the next, there is no sign of them. So, a few cuttings in reserve can be used to fill the gap.
In autumn, cut back established plants by about a third, leaving some foliage to provide protection from ice and snow.
To give plants the best start to a new growing season apply a balanced, generalpurpose fertiliser in spring and then add a hefty mulch because penstemons are greedy feeders.
There are numerous named varieties on offer – if your preference is for red, then take a look at “Chester Scarlet”; “Alice Hindley” produces lilac-blue blooms; and “Burgundy” has, not surprisingly, intense burgundy blooms.