PLANT OF THE WEEK

PENSTEMON ‘HEAVENLY BLUE’

In America, they call devotees of this plant Penstemaniacs and they gather every year to see penstemons growing in their native habitats in North and Central America.

I’m sure there are many enthusiasts this side of the pond too as these are plants that give so much.

The flowers are similar to a foxglove – tubular in shape, which bees like to burrow into to collect nectar. They are arranged in spikes and continue to flower well into autumn. Plant them in fertile, very well-drained soil and in full sunshine. They come in lots of colours, including the popular wine-red ‘Garnet’ and ‘Heavenly Blue’, which has gorgeous summer sky-blue flowers with a hint of pink inside.

If you have very cold winters, it’s worth protecting the roots with a good mulch. You can also take cuttings in summer to propagate.