Penstemons

[Essexgirl]

I bought a couple at the weekend because I needed to create some height at the back of the pond and these looked perfect.
I've never grown them before but I'm told it's best to leave the foliage on over winter to protect the new shoots. Is there anything else I should know about them, any Penstemons growers out there?

[JennyWrenn]

I'm one EG ;D

- Carol Klein says to leave the old flowers etc on over winter which I do - I have had them for years now - I just tidy them up but dont cut them all back - let them go with the flow ;D

You can see them on Jenny Wrenn's garden and I gave some to visitors I had over from Essex at the weekend

[Weeterrier]

Penstemons used to die in the winter up here, but they survive now, in the main. Better to leave the foliage on until late spring though as Jenny says.
They root really easily from cuttings. And the smaller the leaf, the hardier they are. And they are all gorgeous

[Jasmine]

Penstemons are one of my absolute favourite plants - there are so many to choose from. As they flower through the summer cut off the flower heads as they die and you will get more flower spikes.
Which sort did you buy EG?

[Essexgirl]

I bought "Maurice Gibb" which is a mauve one and "Beech park" which is a pretty pink. There is a photo of "Beech park" in the garden gallery under Essexgirls garden.

[Jasmine]

I'm off to have a look EG - I've not heard of a Beech Park penstemon!
I was just sitting in the garden having a cup of tea and watching the bees - they use the lower lip of penstemons like a landing strip and then crawl in the flower!! Amazing to watch!

[snowowl]

I have had penstemons in my boarder for years now EG.and i always take cutting in the autume and they do root very easy from cuttings.
Its a way of increasing your plants and haveing a back up in case you loose any over winter which has never happend to me yet touch wood.
They are lovely flowers and i can see you buying more there is so many to choose from.

[Chuckles]

I try to dead head as soon as the flowers have gone, so I don't let them go to seed. I dead head totally at the end of the season and also I sometimes if I remember put some compo around the base of the plant for a bit of protection over winter. As far as a good trim goes I usually leave this until there are some good 1" shoots showing.

[Ruthie]

Dead head quite ruthlessly when the first flush of flowers has gone and you'll get loads more. Don't dead head and that'll be it! In my experience anyway. (for a person called Ruth i can be VERY Ruthless ya know!)

[JennyWrenn]

I dont dead head until quite late on - I noticed late last night as I was going to cut a few for the house that the bees were still buzzing round them so thought best leave well alone ;D

[Jonah]

I've got a couple in the garden, and they have survived rather dreadful neglect and one very cold winter, and last years sogginess, so I think they are tougher than we've been led to believe. ;D I just chop the old growth off in the spring when I see some signs of life near the base. They also seem very easy to take cuttings from, so if they do start getting leggy, it's worth having a go.

There is one I must have. I tried it from seed last year, but I think it perished when planted out, so will have another go this autumn. It's Penstemon digitalis husker red:

seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/2548/1

[Auricula]

I love'em,love 'em, love 'em to bits
I used to leave them till spring, but now I cut them down in late autumn,because I used to leave them too late in spring and they were difficult to get to Mind you,we don't get frost here like we did in Essex so I'm probably just burbling rubbish!!
I take a series of cuttings from now until autumn and now have about 60 plants of at least a dozen varieties - plus loads I've given away each year.Like fuchsias,they root very easily and I can't resist propagating them, even though I'm going to have to dig a new bed next spring My all time faves are the blue ones but I am hooked on them all - my dream would be to open a penstemon,fuchsia and pinks nursery........heavenly bliss ;D

[Jasmine]

Ohh - can I come and help when you open your nursery Auricula? ;D

[Deleted]

Jun 18, 2008 21:57:07 GMT Jonah said:

There is one I must have. I tried it from seed last year, but I think it perished when planted out, so will have another go this autumn. It's Penstemon digitalis husker red:

seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/2548/1

I have given up on Huskers Red - have tried three times in different spots, plants from different sources and I always lose it.

[Chuckles]

Jun 23, 2008 14:50:22 GMT @shadylady said:

Jun 18, 2008 21:57:07 GMT Jonah said:

There is one I must have. I tried it from seed last year, but I think it perished when planted out, so will have another go this autumn. It's Penstemon digitalis husker red:

seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/2548/1

I have given up on Huskers Red - have tried three times in different spots, plants from different sources and I always lose it.

Mmmm I've just been and checked my two out and it looks like one has popped off might just dig about and see what I can find and pot it up. Worth a try

[Weeterrier]

Usually, they are pretty reliable, though white ones tend to be a bit iffy. I haven't tried that one, but another white one I had popped its clogs the first year.

[Auricula]

Sure can Jasmine - always room for one more addict !! ;D

[Jasmine]

Jun 23, 2008 17:43:50 GMT Weeterrier said:

Usually, they are pretty reliable, though white ones tend to be a bit iffy. I haven't tried that one, but another white one I had popped its clogs the first year.

It's funny you should mention that WeeT - my Snowstorm didn't flower at all last year and nearly got dug up but this year it is covered in flowers. Wonder what it will do next year!
My Sour Grapes (which started as a tiny cutting that fell off a plant at Sissinghurst Gardens as I walked past) is also flowering this year too!

[Auricula]

I too find that the white ones can be variable in their habits ( or a pain in the neck - depending on how charitable I feel!! ;D )

[Weeterrier]

Now you mention it 'Snowstorm' was the one I had.

[Jonah]

Jun 23, 2008 15:05:58 GMT Chuckles said:

Jun 23, 2008 14:50:22 GMT @shadylady said:

I have given up on Huskers Red - have tried three times in different spots, plants from different sources and I always lose it.

Mmmm I've just been and checked my two out and it looks like one has popped off might just dig about and see what I can find and pot it up. Worth a try

Fingers crossed for you Chuckles

[Chuckles]

No sign of the other Huskers did spot this flowering though while I was rummaging......Sour Grapes

[Auricula]

Yummy!!
I have been browsing the Hayloft Plants penstemon collection online ( 250 plants!! )
I am sorely tempted ;D

[Weeterrier]

Hayloft are good for Penstemons, and remember, you can easily propagate them
My Crocus order contained two pots of Penstemon, so you'll see how big they were when I post the photo for you. Though, with Hayloft, it is usually plantlets I think, so the same money would buy a variety of colours.
I've said before. The smaller the leaf, the hardier the plant. And I think that probably goes for the flower too. My 'Garnet' is very reliable. Had it for years.

[Essexgirl]

I can see I shall have to dig up a bit more of my lawn now to accommodate all the other colours I have to try .

[JennyWrenn]

Has anyone else noticed that when they are just about to dig up a plant that hasnt flowered for ages and maybe a year or two - armed with the fork or spade, you suddenly see an ickle flower tucked away

I have a rose bush - flowers very small, white, lost the label - was due for the compost bin this year - covered in flowers now ;D

I've got a blue/purple penstemon and a red one - the red one not out yet so will post a photo when it does

[Jasmine]

You are right WeeT - I ordered some penstemons from Hayloft last year and they were just little plantlets about 6'' tall. They are very healthy plants this year and should flower for the first time! My penstemon from Crocus was the size of a plant you would get from a GC and ready to flower this year.
I have just been for a wander through the school gardens and found the darkest purple penstemon flowering in one of the class' flower beds (they have a flower bed each with their own choice of plants in). It is called Pennington Gem. I have never seen or heard of that penstemon before...but have taken a cutting!! ;D

That's interesting - I have just googled Pennington Gem and it is supposed to be pink not purple - so that is a bit of a mystery. Will have to go and check the label again!

[Deleted]

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between Sour Grapes and Stapleford Gem?

Here's my Stapleford Gem

[Deleted]

Ooooh, I love Penstemons. I've got Andenken an Friedrich Hahn (I think) - took cuttings last year, early summer, one plant flowered in the autumn, and took more cuttings when pruning them this spring - they're already sizeable plants ;D Pinching out the cuttings regularly really does make them bush out - also have 'sour grapes' which a friend gave me, but it hasn't flowered yet - will wait until next spring to take cuttings. Also took cuttings recently of a deep maroon one, can't wait for that to grow. They are sooooo easy, and remain everygreen which is a bonus ;D ... cheers ...

[Jasmine]

Jun 26, 2008 9:26:15 GMT @shadylady said:

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between Sour Grapes and Stapleford Gem?

Here's my Stapleford Gem

There is no difference between Sour Grapes and Stapleford Gem - they are one and the same penstemon! I only found this out myself when I ordered a Stapleford Gem from Crocus and it arrived with a label which said 'Sour Grapes - Stapleford Gem'. I already have a Sour Grapes so I was a bit taken aback but I can always find room for another penstemon!! ;D