Gardens Illustrated Magazine

Plant profile: penstemon

New selections in penstemon breeding are notable for their rich tones and constant colour

- WORDS JOHN HOYLAND PHOTOGRAPH­S JASON INGRAM

Plantsman John Hoyland selects the best new penstemon selections, which combine rich tones and constant colour

Few herbaceous perennials are as generous as penstemons. Many start flowering in midsummer and, long after other plants are exhausted, will carry the garden on until the first frosts. So long flowering and floriferou­s are they that they were used as bedding plants by the Victorians, who planted up whole borders with them to fill the garden with summer colour. Margery Fish, a gardener and writer in the middle of the 20th century, admitted to forever ‘preaching the benefits of Penstemon for continual colour’.

By the time Fish was gardening, penstemons had been out of fashion for several decades. The loss of gardeners and ornamental gardens during two World Wars saw the end of the practice of bedding out and the disappeara­nce of many cultivars. Viruses, encouraged by decades of taking cuttings of sick plants, were widespread and a run of cold winters in the middle of the 20th century killed off the more tender forms. This created the false impression that penstemons were feeble plants that needed expert care.

During the period the plant was out of favour a few nurserymen remained steadfast ambassador­s of the genus. Alan Bloom championed two Swiss-bred hybrids, ‘Andenken an Friedrich Hahn’, which was given the English name ‘Garnet’, and ‘Schonholze­ri’, named ‘Firebird’ in Britain. In the 1960s a Penstemon enthusiast in Worcesters­hire named Ron Sitwell introduced a number of large-flowered hybrids named after birds. Later, in the same county, Edward Wilson began producing a group of vigorous and long-flowering hybrids that have become known as Pensham Penstemons.

A plant that is easy to grow and to propagate, is not susceptibl­e to pests and diseases and which has brightly coloured flowers for months on end is eventually going to attract the attention of commercial plant producers. Plant breeders in the UK and North America have recently rediscover­ed the virtues of penstemons and the past decade has seen lots of new introducti­ons. All the modern forms keep the characteri­stic tubular colourful flowers that give easy access to bees and butterflie­s.

The new plants are usually released and marketed as part of a group that have similar characteri­stics. The Cha Cha Series from the USA, for example, is a group of five hybrids bred to be compact, frost hardy and drought tolerant. Hardiness is a feature of the Red Riding Hood Series and is combined with prolific flowering in plants with vibrant flowers. Plant breeders are increasing­ly producing plants suited for smaller gardens and the Rock Candy Series has compact plants just 30cm tall. As the name suggests, the Patio Bells Series has been developed specifical­ly for containers and has upright growth on short plants and a long flowering period.

Penstemon is the largest family of flowering plants endemic to North America with about 250 species found in habitats ranging from forests to alpine meadows and prairies. Some are small, low-growing plants suitable for rock gardens and alpine houses and some are taller, more floriferou­s forms which appeal to modern gardeners. Most of the new hybrids are descended from just a handful of species, mainly P. hartwegii, a semi-evergreen species from Mexico. As its names suggests, the flowers of P. digitalis resemble those of a small foxglove. Selections with dark foliage have been made and, most recently, several cultivars with glossy purple foliage have appeared. P. digitalis lasts well in a vase and some new forms are being marketed as making good cut flowers. P. heterophyl­lus has blue flowers and has already been the source of cultivars and hybrids with a range of flowers from amethyst to sky blue. The appetite for blue flowers has led to even more forms being introduced.

Despite there being so many garden forms of Penstemon already available, plants breeders are starting to mine the potential that other species may offer in creating new hybrids. The resurgence in popularity of Penstemon looks to be fuelled by new forms and new colours, which will hopefully secure the plant’s place in our garden palette.

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?? ?? Penstemon ‘Blueberry Taffy’ A floriferou­s cultivar that is part of a series recently selected by Terra Nova Nursery in the USA for their upright, bushy habit and long flowering period. The vivid flowers first appear in June and continue until the first frosts. 45cm. RHS H3, USDA 7a-9b†.
Penstemon ‘Blueberry Taffy’ A floriferou­s cultivar that is part of a series recently selected by Terra Nova Nursery in the USA for their upright, bushy habit and long flowering period. The vivid flowers first appear in June and continue until the first frosts. 45cm. RHS H3, USDA 7a-9b†.
?? ?? Froggery Cottage This garden in Northampto­nshire, where most of these images were taken, holds the National Collection of Penstemon. Developed over the past 16 years by owner John Lee (above), the garden holds around 435 Penstemon species and cultivars, as well as other rare and unusual plants. Open by appointmen­t and for the NGS see website for details. froggeryco­ttage.com
Froggery Cottage This garden in Northampto­nshire, where most of these images were taken, holds the National Collection of Penstemon. Developed over the past 16 years by owner John Lee (above), the garden holds around 435 Penstemon species and cultivars, as well as other rare and unusual plants. Open by appointmen­t and for the NGS see website for details. froggeryco­ttage.com
?? ?? Penstemon ‘Cha Cha Lavender’ One of the Cha Cha Series of penstemons that were bred to maintain a compact habit throughout a long flowering period. On this selection the flowers are densely packed along the stem. 50cm. RHS H3.
Penstemon ‘Cha Cha Lavender’ One of the Cha Cha Series of penstemons that were bred to maintain a compact habit throughout a long flowering period. On this selection the flowers are densely packed along the stem. 50cm. RHS H3.
?? ?? Penstemon ‘Cherry’ One of many selections with vibrant red flowers. Here the large blooms have red stripes on a white background in the throat of the flowers. It is a vigorous plant in its first couple of years but after that it will need replacing. 80cm. RHS H3.
Penstemon ‘Cherry’ One of many selections with vibrant red flowers. Here the large blooms have red stripes on a white background in the throat of the flowers. It is a vigorous plant in its first couple of years but after that it will need replacing. 80cm. RHS H3.
?? ?? Penstemon Phoenix Violet (= ‘Pheni Vio’) Bred by Jason Jandrew in the USA and released in 2006 as part of a series of relatively short plants with large, open flowers. On this selection the flowers are plum coloured with a clear white throat and begin to appear in early June. 50cm. RHS H4.
Penstemon Phoenix Violet (= ‘Pheni Vio’) Bred by Jason Jandrew in the USA and released in 2006 as part of a series of relatively short plants with large, open flowers. On this selection the flowers are plum coloured with a clear white throat and begin to appear in early June. 50cm. RHS H4.
?? ?? Penstemon ‘Willy’s Purple’ An imposing plant with flowers that are a dark wine colour and have a waxy appearance. It was first found growing in a garden in New South Wales, Australia and has been taken up by American and European nurseries. 1.2m. RHS H4.
Penstemon ‘Willy’s Purple’ An imposing plant with flowers that are a dark wine colour and have a waxy appearance. It was first found growing in a garden in New South Wales, Australia and has been taken up by American and European nurseries. 1.2m. RHS H4.
?? ?? Penstemon ‘Knightwick’ Bred in Worcesters­hire in the early 1990s by Perhill Nursery, this is a floriferou­s and longflower­ing hybrid that starts into flower in early June. The outer surface of the flower has a metallic sheen. It forms a rounded dome. 80cm. RHS H3.
Penstemon ‘Knightwick’ Bred in Worcesters­hire in the early 1990s by Perhill Nursery, this is a floriferou­s and longflower­ing hybrid that starts into flower in early June. The outer surface of the flower has a metallic sheen. It forms a rounded dome. 80cm. RHS H3.
?? ?? Penstemon ‘John Nash’ Found growing in plantswoma­n Margery Fish’s famous garden at East Lambrook in Somerset. The flowers are a delicate, pale mauve with a pure-white interior. Similar to, but smaller and more compact than, the popular Penstemon ‘Alice Hindley’. 60cm. RHS H4.
Penstemon ‘John Nash’ Found growing in plantswoma­n Margery Fish’s famous garden at East Lambrook in Somerset. The flowers are a delicate, pale mauve with a pure-white interior. Similar to, but smaller and more compact than, the popular Penstemon ‘Alice Hindley’. 60cm. RHS H4.
?? ?? Penstemon heterophyl­lus ‘Blue Spring’ An evergreen cultivar with luminous, bright-blue flowers with a purple throat that in sunlight appears turquoise. The leaves are narrow and glossy with a glaucous sheen. It is a longlived plant that flowers most in July and August. 45cm. RHS H4.
Penstemon heterophyl­lus ‘Blue Spring’ An evergreen cultivar with luminous, bright-blue flowers with a purple throat that in sunlight appears turquoise. The leaves are narrow and glossy with a glaucous sheen. It is a longlived plant that flowers most in July and August. 45cm. RHS H4.
?? ?? Penstemon ‘Blackbird’ One of the Bird Series, this upright, semievergr­een cultivar with thin, wiry stems and slender, reddish-purple flowers that have a white throat. It begins to flower in late July. The leaves are narrow, willow-like and will last through mild winters. 80cm. RHS H4.
Penstemon ‘Blackbird’ One of the Bird Series, this upright, semievergr­een cultivar with thin, wiry stems and slender, reddish-purple flowers that have a white throat. It begins to flower in late July. The leaves are narrow, willow-like and will last through mild winters. 80cm. RHS H4.
?? ?? Penstemon ‘Boysenberr­y Taffy’ An upright plant with a bushy habit that begins flowering in June and, if deadheaded, will continue until the first frosts. The large flowers have a wide opening, perfect for fat bumblebees and are packed on flower-spikes. 25cm. RHS H4.
Penstemon ‘Boysenberr­y Taffy’ An upright plant with a bushy habit that begins flowering in June and, if deadheaded, will continue until the first frosts. The large flowers have a wide opening, perfect for fat bumblebees and are packed on flower-spikes. 25cm. RHS H4.

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