Some smaller Penstemons.


I just couldn't do it to you five weeks running, so Moraea - Part 5 misses a week and will come out next Tuesday, 18th May.

With this article, could we look at a few of the smaller Penstemons?

In Australia, plants of these are often hard to come by, and yes; I read the mail you send. Because of economics you can't join societies in the hope that they will have seeds into the future you may wish to grow.

If your interests are just Alpines, then try and join AGS. If your interests are just Bulbs, try and join AGS.

Each year their high quality bulletin covers in detail both Alpines and Bulbs, this is easy to read and adorned with glorious mouth watering colour pictures showing you what they are describing. Their annual seed list, with well in excess of 6,000 offerings for members, fills this jaded writer with awe each year at reading.

Be it for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Birthday, or as a Christmas present, get the family to join you to this Society; you will never regret joining.

For Australian readers, Woodbank Nursery has the following Penstemons: The following descriptions are theirs unless otherwise stated.

  • Penstemon hirsutus compacta. Perennial to 20cm. Flowers pale violet with a white throat. $2.50

  • Penstemon 'Pilot Rock'. A small shrub with pale lilac blue flowers. 10cm $3.50.

  • Penstemon pinifolius with fine needle like foliage. Deep orange scarlet tubular flowers in spring and summer. Sun 20cm. $3.50. I have found that this low spreading shrub can reach up to 40ish cm.

  • Penstemon pinifolius 'Mersea Yellow' Same as above but with yellow flowers.

  • Penstemon 'Pink Dragon' is a neat plant covering itself with large clear pink flowers in spring. Needs a dryish position in sun to flower well. $2.50.

  • Penstemon species, This attractive plant has racemes of bright blue flowers, needs sun. 30cm. $3.50.

    With a few exceptions, Penstemons like good quick drainage in cultivation and generally full sun. For the record, the last AGS seed distribution had about 80 Penstemons on offer. What a way to start a collection, should you have wished to.

    Penstemons can be grown from both seed and cuttings. Seeds can be sown in prepared beds over winter, where the Penstemons will begin appearing in 1-3 years. They can also be planted in pans in Fall ( autumn ). You can lift the seedlings to locate them to their new growing spot once they are big enough to handle.

    The copyright of the article Some smaller Penstemons. in Alpines and Bulbs is owned by Gary Buckley. Permission to republish Some smaller Penstemons. in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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