Penstemon’s have been an excellent, low maintenance plant for me. They can start flowering in June and still be flowering 4 months later in October. They mostly require well drained soil and protection from heavy frosts. Dead heading is advisable as it will encourage new flowers.

Once or twice a year, I would recommend adding a general fertiliser applied at the base of the plant, taking care to follow the manufacturers instructions. They don’t need a heavy manure of strong nitrogen feed as this will just encourage excessive leaf growth and make them more susceptible to aphids.

As a general rule, I find penstemon free from pests, disease and don’t need staking. There are 3 different varieties of penstemons in this picture, although unfortunately I don’t know their names.

How To Take Penstemon Cuttings

Penstemon are not long lived but they grow well from  cuttings. Take a healthy stem, without flowers. Cut 6 inches from the top of a stem and strip away the lower leaves. Then place the cutting about 2 inches into a suitable potting compost. It should be well drained with additional sand if necessary. Then cover the cutting and keep watered sufficiently to avoid root rot and drying out. I usually find about a 50% take rate, so it is advisable to put 3-4 in a small 3 inch pot and then pot on when they have taken root in a a few weeks.

Check out Gardeners Perennial Tips