3 great penstemons
By: Garden Gate staff
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The perfect penstemon
Penstemon’s colorful spikes are amazing in mass plantings, creating sweeps of color in the border. Or try them on their own or in a mixed container. The nectar-rich, trumpet-shaped bells attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds, and flowers last for several weeks.
Click ahead for 3 top-performing penstemons for a variety of situations.
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Most cold-hardy
This good-looking spike is one of the easiest penstemons to grow. Spreading by stolons, a clump of Rocky Mountain penstemon will continue to widen each year, creating a beautiful stand of blue-purple flowers that are showy in the middle to the back of the border.
Rocky Mountain penstemon is one of the hardiest species and more tolerant of damp soil. But this penstemon doesn’t like to stay soggy. For extra protection, apply a 2-inch layer of mulch or pine boughs after a hard freeze to keep the ground frozen around the roots through winter.
Rocky Mountain penstemon
Penstemon strictus
Blooms Blue-purple in mid- to late spring
Light Full sun to part shade
Size 24 to 36 in. tall, 18 to 24 in. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
Source High Country Gardens
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Standout cut flower
Just one look at the photo at left and you can see why penstemons would be a gorgeous addition to any bouquet. Blooming from late spring through fall, Arabesque Red has long stems with extra large red and white flowers. And the plant is well-branched, so that means lots of flowers for indoors and outside both.
Plant Arabesque Red in the front or middle of the garden, where it’s easy to reach and cut. This one grows well in a container, too. Remove spent blooms to encourage more flowers. If red’s not your color, there are also pink, white-and-pink and violet options in the Arabesque series.
Penstemons are easy to grow from seed. You’ll want to start them indoors in winter, so you’ll have plenty of time to get sturdy plants ready to move outside in spring.
Arabesque™ Red
Penstemon hartwegii
Blooms Red with white throat from late spring through fall
Light Full sun
Size 15 to 24 in. tall and wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 6 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
Source Swallowtail Garden Seeds
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Humidity-tolerant
Many penstemons grow best in dry climates, like the Southwest. But you can grow this one if you live where summers are more humid. As a Midwest native, it’s naturally tolerant of higher humidity and heavier soil, as long as it’s well-drained.
‘Pocahontas’ at left has dark burgundy foliage in spring, dark red stems and lavender-pink flowers. ‘Husker Red’ and ‘Dark Towers’ look similar and are also tolerant of these conditions.
Penstemon digitalis
Blooms Lavender, pink or white from spring to early summer
Light Full sun
Size 2 to 4 ft. tall, 1 to 3 ft. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 8
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 8 to 1
Source Bluestone Perennials, Inc.
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