From mid spring to early summer, it bears racemes of tubular, electric blue flowers, tinged with purple, on reddish stems. Karen's Notes: To maintain this plant, cut flowering stems to the ground after bloom. Firstly, you can choose one of the hardier varieties. Their flowers are similar in shape to a foxglove, growing in tall spires of trumpet-shaped flowers. CULTURE: Sow indoors March 1st like Snapdragons. I would always keep it deadheaded, so maybe that's the reason it died. Another tall varieties this has lovely pink flowers with deeper pink markings. Get started now. Beardtongue Neon Bright Glowing Iridescent 10 Seeds TrueSourceSeeds. Native to the West Coast from Canada to Mexico, penstemon (Penstemon spp.) It overwinters well if planted in a sheltered position. Penstemon forms dense spikes of tubular flowers in early to mid summer. They have a variety of flower colours including red, white, pink, and purple. is a vast genus of plants, most of which bloom colorful bell-shaped flowers in the spring. In spring, you should scrape away the top couple of inches of compost and replace it with fresh. This electric blue-flowered variety is vigorous and provides a profusion of blooms. Stems are strong so it’s only in very exposed garden that plant supports will be required. Foothill Penstemon is very similar to Penstemon Margarita Bop but it likes drier conditions, is taller and the flowers are more lavender. The Penstemon Plant - Electric Blue is a truly magnificent plant producing fantastic intense electric blue flowers that will illuminate your flower beds and flower borders. They also do well in containers and pots. Commonly known as beardtongues, penstemon plants are very popular for their tube-shaped flowers. The varieties with narrow leaves tend to be hardier than the broad-leaved varieties. Plants form a low, shrubby clump of evergreen leaves, bearing spikes of clear-blue … (Zones: … Overwinter the plants in a cool greenhouse or cold frame and they will be ready to plant out the following April. These plants are wonderful for the herbaceous border adding lots of height and colour. This is another fungal disease that can affect penstemon. Cultivation. How to Care for a Penstemon Flower. They provide plenty of colour in the later part of the season and attract bees with their nectar-filled flowers. This a taller variety than most reaching 1.2 metres (4 feet) in height. Most penstemons should not be cut back in autumn as the old growth protects the tender crown. to your plant lists. Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden. Favorite Water the plants well until they are well established. Penstemon main facts. Alternatively, you can divide them in autumn but pot them up and keep them in a sheltered spot or cool greenhouse ready for hardening off and planting up in spring once any danger of frost has passed and the soil has begun to warm. Grow penstemon flowers if you like butterflies and hummingbirds in your garden. How to Grow Penstemon. Wait until the harsh winter weather is well and truly over and the soil has begun to warm. There is a penstemon for every part of the garden. They are all members of the plantain family. Foothill penstemon (P. heterophyllus): A California native with glossy blue-green leaves and blue flowers on slender spikes. Hardy in zones 5-10. 29,000 seeds per oz./28 gr. Noteworthy Characteristics. , Slugs In spring, when new growth appears, cut back the old growth to just above the new shoots. Do not over fertilise as this can lead to the plant producing foliage at the expense of flowers. Glasshouse red spider mite , Leaf and bud eelworms , Slugs , Snails. Get expert info and easy to follow monthly care reminders for the plants in your garden by signing up for a free Shoot account. It is endemic to California, where it can be found in all of the major coastal mountain ranges and the northern Sierra Nevada foothills. I have included this variety as it does well in part shade. Ideally, this would be done in spring to give the plants a chance to regrow before winter, however, it can be done in autumn if you have a fairly sheltered garden. This variety takes its name from the delicate red foliage rather than flower colour. This pretty variety has white flowers flushed with pale pink. , Leaf and bud eelworms It blooms in spring, and creates quite a show in the garden when planted with California poppies and other spring wildflowers. All rights reserved. Enrich the soil with about a bucketful of well-rotted organic matter and 70g per sq m (2oz per sq yd) of balanced general-purpose fertiliser to aid good establishment. Flowers 14 weeks from seed. Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Electric Blue’ is considered a border Penstemon. Often it is cold wet soil in winter that causes these plants to die rather than cold temperatures themselves. On light or sandy soils, they may need watering fortnightly. This is one of the best white varieties. Border penstemons are easy to grow in any fertile, reasonably moist, free-draining soil in full sun or light shade. The flowers will last longer if the stems are dipped in boiling water for 30 seconds and then left in very cold water overnight. Flowering – May to October. Planting is best done from mid- to late spring. We recommend that you cut some of the flower stems for vases. Soil and Water Requirements. For this reason, you should consider dividing your plants or taking cuttings in order to have new plants to replace the old ones as they die off. These wonderful flowers come in a range of gorgeous colours. Dig up the plant, ensuring you get all the roots, and move it to a cool location. In general, those with narrow leaves tend to be able to survive worse weather than those with broader leaves. Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance. Choose a position in sun and with well-drained soil. These plants thrive in good light and will be happiest in a sunny border or bed. , Slugs A good mulch of well-rotted manure or compost will help your plant get through cold winter weather. They flower from late summer up until the first frosts. There are more than 250 penstemon species, and many of them are native to North America. You should plant your penstemon in late spring or early summer so that they have plenty of time to establish before winter. Flowers first year. So, it worth propagating regularly to ensure you always have fresh vigorous plants in your garden. If you choose to propagate your plant by dividing it, this should be done in spring to ensure the plant has enough chance to recover before winter. In fact, they are related to them. The contrasting white flowers make this a very attractive plant. Cut the flower stalks right back to the ground after flowering. Thirdly, never cut back your penstemon in autumn. You should take cuttings in July or August. In addition, water you plant at the base rather than on the leaves and water early in the day to allow the moisture to evaporate before nightfall. True Americans, Pentstemons (Pentstemon spp.) With such a wide variety of species and cultivars to choose from, you can have a penstemon blooming for almost the entire growing season. Mar 2, 2020 - Explore Lakeland Yard and Garden's board "PENSTEMON", followed by 1214 people on Pinterest. The long lasting blooms of Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Electric Blue’ appear from June through to October enticing plenty of pollinating insects to your garden. New forms and hybrids are introduced frequently. It is a reliable variety that comes back year after year and flowers prolifically. PENSTEMON (Beard Tongue) Perennial 16 in/40 cm Approx. The darker coloured varieties also look wonderful against silver foliage such as nepeta, artemisia and cineraria or among feathery grasses. These pests can be removed with a strong jet of water or by spraying with a soap solution. Are they reaching the end of their life? It’s a strong upright plant that flowers well. , Snails Attractive narrow, shiny, bluish-green leaves topped with dense spikes of narrow bell-shaped blossoms of bright blue. of 0.5m after 2-5 years. It is often cold wet soil that kills off these plants rather than generally low temperatures, so add plenty of course grit if you have heavy clay soil. Call Toll Free. The flowers are also narrow and deep red in colour. It flowers best in full sun, but will tolerate part shade. Freeze seed for 10 days before sowing. Leaving some growth intact will help them survive the winter. It copes with a variable climate and overwinters well. You should remove all infected buds, blossoms and foliage. I used to grow Penstemon heterophyllus 'Electric Blue' in my garden, but lost it after a few years. Each cutting should be about 3- 4 inches in length. Plant in free-draining soil in a sunny position or light shade. It flowers abundantly with azure blue blossoms overlaid with hints of pink. There is an American society (penstemons.org) dedicated ONLY to this genus. On medium to heavy soils, you will not need to water except in long periods of dry weather. Flower colors include pink, blue, red, purple, and white. This disease occurs mostly in humid weather. Penstemon heterophyllus 'Electric Blue' is: Semi evergreen, Glasshouse red spider mite Penstemon heterophyllus Electric Blue is a selected form of the Foothills Beardtongue that blooms in late spring with a memorable display of intensely blue flowers. Producing multiple stems of intense blue flowers from June through to September. I haven't gotten around to getting another. The cuttings can be potted up individually once you see roots emerging from the base of the tray. Choose stems from the current year’s growth that are just beginning to turn woody. Intensely blue flowers with a tinge of purple contrast beautifully with the silvery green foliage of this hardy perennial. Name – Penstemon Family – Scrophulariaceae (figwort family) Type – perennial. We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant. Glossy green foliage is a nice complement. This Penstemon does the best in full sun, with shade it looks leggy. The plants grow 1' to 3' tall, depending on … You can treat plants with a fungicide, however, badly affected plants should be disposed of. Each new plant can now be replanted into its location in the bed or border or planted up into a container. See more ideas about plants, planting flowers, perennials. They range in size from 1 to 3 feet. It is cold tolerant to about -10 Deg. If planting in a pot, use a loam-based potting compost. Q My penstemon did not come back after winter. This variety has large deep purple flowers. Once the roots fill the pot you should repot your plant into a container that is a couple of inches larger than the existing one. Attractive glossy deep green foliage. Cut back any plants that are overcrowded and remove weeds and plant debris. Read on to find the best penstemon varieties along with guidance on how to propagate, grow and take care of these lovely flowering plants. 4 out of 5 stars (344) 344 reviews $ 11.99. represent about 275 species native to North America. This is a lovely deep pink variety with nice, large flowers. Also known as Foothills Beardtongue 'Electric Blue'. They will flower best in soil that is not too rich. Penstemon heterophyllus , Foothill Penstemon. Penstemon heterophyllus 'Electric Blue' (Penstemon 'Electric Blue') will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.5m after 2-5 years. Most varieties reach about 60 cm (2 feet), Mulch the crown if you expect temperatures to fall below zero, Half-hardy. Its buds are creamy white, opening to white flowers that are very lightly tinged with pink. , Snails. A dose of rose fertiliser in spring and summer is all that is required, These plants are easily propagated by cutting or divisions, This plant is not susceptible to many pests and is even slug resistant. Penstemon heterophyllus is prized for the ability to thrive in neglect, drought, and in different soil types including clay or gravelly soil. Flowers late spring to early summer, growing to around 1 to 1 1/2 ft. tall and wide. In a traditional border or cottage garden, they go well with peonies, roses, fuchsias and hardy geraniums. Water the plants well the day before you make your divisions. This is a fungal disease that may appear as brown spots on the leaves. It has a lower growth habit, forming more of a clump than some varieties. With so many colors to choose from, everyone can find a penstemon to love. Penstemon are occasionally susceptible to fungal diseases. I know you're suppose to let some stems stand with seeds regarding Penstemons. These plants require well-drained soil as they hate waterlogging. Penstemon derive their nickname, beardtongue, from the fact that a hairy stamen sticks out of the “mouth” of the flower. A rose fertiliser suits them perfectly. You can then gently break the plant apart ensuring each new section has some roots and leaves. Others originated from certain parts of … This plant is not susceptible to many pests and is even slug proof. To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account. Requires a well-drained soil. Most will survive a British winter if some of their top growth is left over winter. ©2004-2020 Shoot Limited. Note: We are working to update our ratings. It may not survive a harsh winter, so it is worth propagating each year. It is not usually necessary to enrich the soil before planting as this can lead to a lush green plant but few flowers. Plant this small perennial close to the front of the … To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account. What can I do to make sure this doesn’t happen again? Height – 26 to 32 inches (0.6 to 0.8 meters) Exposure – full sun, part sun Soil – rather rich and well drained. Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Blue Springs’ is a brighter, electric blue and maintains this color throughout its bloom. If you have a heavy clay soil, you should add plenty of coarse grit before planting to improve drainage. Well-drained soil. Penstemon are not particularly long-lived plants, however, they can be regenerated by dividing existing plants into several new plants. If there is only one set of leaves reduce these by half if they are large. Secondly, make sure your soil is well-drained. The spent flower spikes should be cut off to encourage more blooming, better form, and longer life. , Leaf and bud eelworms Fourthly, mulch the crown of your plant with some well-rotted manure or compost to keep it cosy and warm over winter. Also known as Garnet, this is a very hardy, narrow-leaved variety. They will cope with partial shade but may not flower as profusely. Q My penstemon usually provide me with plenty of flowers but this year they have not flowered so much. Add penstemon Electric Blue to wall-side borders or the centre of your flower beds for relaxing and cottage-style tall stems of beautiful trumpet flowers every summer and every autumn. Cultivars include 'Blue Springs' and ‘Electric Blue’. They can then be hardened off before planting out. Flowering for near half the year impressive Electric Blue performs like a champion in the garden. Fertilise once in spring and again in summer. Leaving the top growth over winter provides some protection for the tender crown. Carefree and drought resistant, this Penstemon sports an interesting purple blush at the stems. Germinate at 60°'F/16°C for 20 days. Regular deadheading will ensure you have flowers right up until the first frosts. Encouraging beneficial insects such as ladybirds can keep populations under control. These wonderful plants were a favourite of Victorian gardeners for their abundant blooms and gorgeous colours. Penstemon heterophyllus Electric Blue is a selected form of the Foothills Beardtongue, a small growing evergreen shrub from California, that blooms in late spring with a memorable display of intensely blue … Glasshouse red spider mite Cultivation notes. to your lists, login to your account or subscribe.