We are passionate about Penstemons with their differing forms, colours and uses so we chose to grow more and specialize in the varieties that we offer. For more information about the origins of Penstemons.
Penstemon ‘Alice Hindley’ AGM
Height 100 cm. Spread 50 cm.
Penstemon Apple Blossom
This is a medium sized, clump-forming, bushy plant offering large flowers in abundance of pale pink tinged with white and purple in the throat.
The foliage is dense and narrow and evergreen throughout winter.
Flowers late June to winter when the frost will kill off the flowers but not the foliage.
Grow in full sun in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and tip cuttings.
Height 80 cm. Spread 50 cm.
Penstemon Alpina
Penstemon hybrida Blackbird
Penstemon Blackbird
This is a larger sized bushy plant offering striking dark burgundy flowers with red striped throats.
The foliage is dense, narrow and a glossy green, remaining evergreen throughout the winter.
Flowers from June through to December.
Grow in full sun in well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and tip cuttings.
Height 90 cm. Spread 50 cm.
Penstemon ‘Burgundy’
‘Burgundy’ is a semi-evergreen, perennial plant with lance-shaped, glossy green leaves forming a bushy shape. The magenta flowers are borne on tall stems in summer and early autumn.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from division, softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings.
Height 80 cm. Spread 50 cm.
Penstemon Cambridge pink
This is a smaller, compact perennial plant with glossy blue-green leaves and short stems of pink flowers from early to late summer. Because of its size it is an ideal plant for rockeries and alpine gardens.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed,
Height 30 cm. Spread 30 cm.
Penstemon Campanulatus
This is a small, semi-upright perennial with deciduous, dark green leaves.
Flowers on spikes are pink or purple from spring through until summer.
A showy, unusual plant worth a place in your border.
Grow in full sun in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and by cuttings.
Height 60 cm. Spread 60 cm.
Penstemon Caryi
Cary’s Penstemon
A low-growing Penstemon with glaucous green, glossy leaves.
It has clusters of deep lavender flowers with white throats. Ideal for a rockery.
Grow in full sun in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and by cuttings.
Height 15-25 cm.
Penstemon coccineus
This medium sized Penstemon is similar to the Schoenholzeri (see below) with an abundance of deep red flowers.
Not as tall as the Schoenholzeri but equally hardy and stunning.
Grow in full sun in a well drained soil.
Height 70 cm. Spread 50 cm.
Penstemon barbatus coccineus
This large showy plant displays masses of semi-upright, salmon-red flowers from late spring through to late summer.
A clump forming plant, tall when in flower reaching up to 120 cm.
Very unusual and the flowers make excellent cut flowers.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed, cuttings and division.
Height 120 cm. Spread 100 cm.
Penstemon barbatus coccineus ‘Jingle Bells’
Similar characteristics to the above.
The flowers on the ‘Jingle Bells’ are scarlet red and make a very striking plant.
Penstemon Confertus
Yellow Penstemon
An evergreen, one of the rarer Penstemons, low growing, mat forming and flowering from spring until summer.
Clusters of small yellow flowers form a pretty border plant.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and division.
Height 20-45 cm. Spread 60 cm.
Penstemon ‘Countess of Dalkeith’
Height 75 cm. Spread 45 cm.
Penstemon Davidsonii
This evergreen Penstemon is an ideal rockery plant. It has pink and white flowers that cascade and forms an interesting small bushy shape.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a gritty, well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and division.
Height 15 cm. Spread 20 cm.
Penstemon Digitalis
A large variety with bright green leaves, turning pinky red in late summer.
Flowers are small and white on long stems.
Bloom time is from April and continues throughout the summer.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and division.
Height 150 cm. Spread 40 cm.
Penstemon ‘Flamingo’
Height 90 cm. Spread 45 cm.
Penstemon Grandiflorus
A large, handsome perennial offering spikes of lavender-blue flowers from late spring through summer.
Evergreen foliage with thick stems and broad, blue-green leaves.
Grow in full sun in a gritty, well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed, cuttings and division.
Height 90 cm. Spread 100 cm.
Makes an unusual cut flower.
Penstemon Hartwegii
A range of showy Penstemons, vibrant colours from white, pinks, reds, burgundies and purples. Bloom time May – September.
Each plant has its own beauty and merits.
Growing anything between 60cm and 90cm, depending on choice.
Come and see them to pick your favourite.
Penstemon heterophyllus Blue Spring
Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Blue Spring’
A low growing plant with narrow, shiny, blue-green leaves and bell shaped flowers, on spikes, starting a vivid lilac and turning bright blue.
Bloom time late spring to early summer although regular dead-heading can lengthen this.
Grow in full sun in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and division.
Height 30-45 cm. Spread 30 cm.
A stunning plant.
Penstemon heterophyllus Catherine de la mare
Another low growing Penstemon with upright dark green leaves and pinky purple flowers.
One of the earlier flowering varieties starting in April.
Grow in full sun in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and by division.
Height 45 cm. Spread 40 cm.
Penstemon ‘Hidcote Pink’ AGM
This evergreen bushy Penstemon is one of the larger varieties growing to 90cm.
It is a bushy perennial with long, lance-like green leaves and flowers from June-November.
An excellent performer offering an abundance of pale pink, with white striped throats, flowers.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and cuttings.
Height 90 cm. Spread 100 cm.
Penstemon Hirsutus
An early flowering variety that starts to bloom in spring with pale purple, white throated flowers.
Evergreen dark green, tinged with red, leaves.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and division.
Height 30-90 cm. Spread 70 cm.
A lovely plant.
Penstemon Hirsutus ‘alba’
As above only it is white flowering and the foliage is bright green.
Penstemon Hirsutus pygmeas albus
This is a dwarf variety of the hirsutus. This plant is ideal for rockeries and front of borders.
Flowers are white.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and by division.
Height 15 cm. Spread 20 cm.
Looks great draped over rock in wall or rockery.
Penstemon Hirsutus pygmeas
As above only with lavender and white flowers.
Penstemon ‘Husker’s Red’ AGM
Another AGM award winning Penstemon.
A spectacular plant throughout the year with its striking deep wine coloured foliage (looks superb in autumn).
Masses of small white, tinged pink in summer, flowers produced throughout the summer on long stalks.
Useful for all year round interest.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and by division.
Height 100 cm. Spread 60 cm.
Penstemon hybrida
A hybrid offering an abundance of deep pink, with white striped throat, flowers.
Long slim green leaves, staying evergreen in winter.
Grow in full sun in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from cuttings.
Height 60 cm. Spread 40 cm.
Penstemon Kunthii
A small neat Penstemon with glossy, dark green leaves and deep cerise coloured flowers.
The lance shaped leaves are serrated along each side adding further interest to this plant.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and cuttings.
Height 45-60 cm. Spread 30 cm.
Penstemon Old Candy Pink
Penstemon ‘Old Candy Pink’
This Penstemon is still being tested for its hardiness – hopefully details will follow.
Penstemon Le Phare
Penstemon ‘Le Phare’
Another showy Penstemon offering large flowers that are bright red with a white throat.
Bushy in form, blooming from June throughout summer.
Grow in full sun in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from cuttings.
Height 60 cm. Spread 40 cm.
Penstemon Lilac Frost
Penstemon ‘Lilac Frost’
A compact form, very hardy and evergreen. Flowers are a stubby bell shape in white, brushed on the top with vibrant purple.
Bloom time is summer and autumn.
Grow in full sun in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and cuttings.
Height 50 cm. Spread 50 cm.
A fabulous choice for summer borders or pots.
Penstemon ‘Mystica’
A new variety that strongly resembles the Husker’s Red.
The large leaved foliage is deep bronze to purple and flowers are lavender pink. Because of it’s colorful leaves the ‘Mystica’ has all year round interest.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and by division.
Height 150 cm. Spread 90 cm.
If you like the Husker’s Red you’ll love the Mystica!
Penstemon Ovatus
Penstemon Ovatus
A clump forming, semi-evergreen, perennial plant with broad glossy, dark green leaves.
Ovatus has flowers, borne on erect stems, that start a deep lilac colour turning to blue when fully opened.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a moist but well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed, division and semi- hardwood cuttings.
Height 100 cm. Spread 60 cm.
Penstemon Palmeri
A scented variety bearing white, with a tinge of pink or purple, flowers all summer long.
Straggly growth habit and in our experience difficult to grow but well worth the effort.
Grow in full sun in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and cuttings.
Height 180 cm.
(We no longer grow this Penstemon here)
Penstemon PCHA 148
Penstemon PCHA 148
Another exceptionally hardy Penstemon.
Similar to the lilac frost in habit its flowers are white with a generous splash of pink on top.
A stunning plant admired by most.
Grow in full sun in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and cuttings.
Height 50 cm. Spread 50 cm.
Penstemon ‘Pensham Laura’
This is a bushy, semi-evergreen plant bearing large, white, with a deep pink flush, flowers from July through to October.
Plant in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from cuttings.
Height 70 cm. Spread 50 cm.
Penstemon Pinifolius
Penstemon Pinifolius
A small plant, very different in appearance to the other Penstemon varieties.
Pinnate leaved, evergreen and bearing tiny trumpet shaped orangey red flowers on stems throughout summer. It looks great on a rockery or at the front of borders.
Grow in full sun in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved by division, semi-hardwood and softwood cuttings.
Height 25 cm. Spread 25 cm.
An ideal rockery plant.
Penstemon Pinifolius Mersea Yellow
Penstemon Pinifolius ‘Mersea Yellow’
Similar to the Pinifolius although the leaves are a liitle brighter and more dense and the flowers a sunshine yellow from summer into autumn.
Grow in full sun in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved by division, semi-hardwood and softwood cuttings.
Height 25 cm. Spread 25 cm.
An ideal rockery plant.
Penstemon preacox nanus blue
A clump forming, extremely hardy, small perennial plant with dark green leathery leaves and erect spikes of purple flowers.
Very attractive plant suiting both borders and rockeries.
Bloom time early summer through into autumn, deadheading prolongs the flowering
Grow in full sun in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and division.
Height 40 cm. Spread 30 cm.
Penstemon praecox nanus pink
A clump forming, hardy perennial plant with dark green leathery leaves and erect stems bearing pink flowers from early summer through to autumn. Regular dead heading of faded flowers encourages continuous blooming.
Grow in full sun in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and by division.
Height 40 cm. Spread 30 cm.
Penstemon Ravven
Penstemon ‘Raven’ AGM
This is a semi-evergreen, perennial plant with bright green leaves and small, tubular deep purple flowers, with a white throat and streaked with red, on tall, elegant stems.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved by division, softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings.
Height 100 cm. Spread 50 cm.
Penstemon Richardsonii
Richardsonii, Or Richardson’s Penstemon, is a semi-evergreen, perennial plant with toothed dark green leaves and tubular purple flowers in clusters throughout summer and into autumn. This is a low growing Penstemon.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed, cuttings and division.
Height 30 cm. Spread 40 cm.
An ideal rockery plant.
Penstemon Schoenholzeri
Penstemon ‘Schoenholzeri’ AGM
This spectacular Penstemon (also referred to as ‘Firebird’ or ‘Ruby’) is a semi-evergreen, bushy, perennial plant. Very hardy, it has narrow lance-shaped leaves and masses of tubular, deep crimson flowers from early summer to the first frosts.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved by division, softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings.
Height 80 cm. Spread 60 cm.
Penstemon Serrulatus
Penstemon Serrulatus
This easy to grow and very hardy Penstemon has slightly serrated leaves and bears purple tubular flowers in summer.
It is a shrubby, leafy plant, unlike the more familiar hybrids that offer many spikes of tall showy flowers.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and division.
Height 60 cm. Spread 50 cm.
Penstemon Snow Storm
Penstemon ‘Snow Storm’ AGM
A long flowering Penstemon with bright green, lance shaped leaves and bushy in growth. Although pink in bud the flowers develop into pure white. This is a semi-evergreen perennial.
It blooms from June throughout the summer and into autumn.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved by division, softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings.
Height 60 cm. Spread 40 cm.
Penstemon Souvenir d”Adrien Regnier
Penstemon ‘Souvenir d’Adrien Regnier’
Another evergreen Penstemon bearing large soft pink flowers, with white throats.
In bloom from June through until late autumn.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings.
Height 50 cm. Spread 50 cm.
Penstemon Strictus
Penstemon Strictus
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
An upright, hardy, perennial with dark green basal leaves and bearing stalks, up to 60 cm long, carrying masses of blue-purple flowers.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved by division and by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings.
Height 90 cm. Spread 30 cm.
Penstemon Tubular Bells Red
Penstemon ‘Tubular Bells Red’
A herbaceous perennial plant. This eye catching variety offers deep red flowers with white striped throats.
The foliage is dark green and deciduous.
Grow in full sun or light shade in a well drained to dry soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and cuttings.
Height 60 cm. Spread 30 cm.
Penstemon Tubular Bells Rose
Penstemon ‘Tubular Bells Rose’
A lovely, semi-evergreen Penstemon offering rose pink flowers with deeply striped white throats on erect stems,with a basal branching habit. One of the shorter varieties idea for the fronts of borders.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from see, cuttings and division.
Height 60 cm. Spread 30 cm.
A gem of a plant.
Penstemon Venustus
Venus Penstemon
An evergreen, herbaceous perennial with serrated green leaves and purple flowers. Blooms in late spring and summer. A low growing shrubby plant.
Ideal for borders.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and division.
Height 80 cm. Spread 50 cm.
Penstemon Smallii ‘Violet Dusk’
A clump-forming, hardy perennial with dark green leaves and small, pale violet flowers on many stems. Bloom time is from late spring to early summer.
Ideal for pots and containers or as a border plant.
Grow in full sun in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed and division.
Height 60 cm. Spread 40 cm.
Penstemon Smallii
Penstemon Smallii
A slighty taller version of the above with white and violet flowers.
Penstemon Sour Grapes
Penstemon ‘Stapleford Gem’ AGM
‘Stapleford Gem’ is a semi-evergreen, perennial plant with a bushy habit. It has mid green lance-shaped leaves and erect stems with multiple flowers along them from summer into autumn.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a gritty, well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed, cuttings and division.
Height 75 cm. Spread 50 cm.
Penstemon Volcano Mount Etna
Penstemon Volcano ‘Mount Etna’
Penstemon Volcano Mount Etna is a semi-evergreen, clump-forming, perennial plant. It has bright green lance-shaped leaves and red flowers, with white throats, on upright stems from late spring to early autumn. As the stems grow they curl to open up on the arrival of the flowering buds giving it an impression of a volcano erupting.
Grow in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from division or softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings.
Height 60 cm. Spread 45 cm.
Penstemon Volcano ‘Mount Kilimanjaro’
Penstemon Volcano Mount Kilimanjaro has the same attributes as the above, however the flowers are pale pink with white throats.
Penstemon Volcano ‘Mount Vesuvius’
Penstemon Watsonii
Penstemon Whippleanus
Whipple’s Penstemon
Penstemon Whippleanus is an attractive plant with a creeping habit. The long stems bare deep burgundy flowers from late spring/early summer. This Penstemon can tolerate more woodland and moist soils. A good rock garden plant.
Plant in full sun or part shade in a well drained soil.
Propagation can be achieved from seed, cuttings and division.
Height 60 cm. Spread 30 cm.
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