Great, reliable, drought-resistant once established, virtually care-free. I've never had a penstemon I didn't like, and this one is no ex...Read Moreception.
Mine's planted in moderately-rich soil where it gets sunshine nearly all day, fed in early spring with Plant-tone and a bit of compost - this is the time to press them back into the soil if they've been heaved up from the ground during winter freezing/thawing cycles.
I'll give them a deep soaking if we've had a prolonged dry spell, but otherwise I neglect them, and they do just fine.
Lewisburg, PA (Zone 6b) | September 2009 | positive
Very reliable. Delicate yellowy-green foliage. Begins blooming in May, slows in summer. With cooler temps in autumn it is again covered i...Read Moren fresh leaves and flowers.
The color is a grape-purple. The flowers are "tubular" like all penstemon, but short and robust like a foxglove.
It's planted in rich soil in full sun with normal waterings and never needed any special care. It doesn't seem to mind heat with humidity, unlike other penstemon I've tried (and failed) to grow.
UPDATE: Somehow I became disenchanted with the color of this plant and I pulled it out. The following year it was back as nice as before, from some roots that remained. I'm glad I failed to remove it, because it's so reliable and looks great with some new neighbors I added in the meantime. This plant also seeds readily and grows easily from cuttings. I am developing this into a larger clump from cutting and volunteers, but also simply by stretching out a stem and burying it while it's still attached to the parent plant; the stem will root in a suckering fashion. Hummingbirds and bees are attracted to this plant.
Grows very well 20 miles west of Fredericksberg, TX
Deer do not seem to like it yet!!!! First year so no update on it coming up b...Read Morey itself yet. Will update next spring. Txsdar
Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7a) | December 2004 | neutral
Plant in a full sun location with well drained soil. It can tolerate drought conditions. Great for zones 5 - 8. Small purple flowers b...Read Moreloom all summer long. The plant, with flowers, can reach a height of 15". Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, too. A fast grower.
Great, reliable, drought-resistant once established, virtually care-free. I've never had a penstemon I didn't like, and this one is no ex...Read More
Very reliable. Delicate yellowy-green foliage. Begins blooming in May, slows in summer. With cooler temps in autumn it is again covered i...Read More
Beautiful! Love it!
Grows very well 20 miles west of Fredericksberg, TX
Deer do not seem to like it yet!!!! First year so no update on it coming up b...Read More
Plant in a full sun location with well drained soil. It can tolerate drought conditions. Great for zones 5 - 8. Small purple flowers b...Read More