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Short Purple Penstemon?
I have never really considered penstemons before, but I am looking to replace some salvia caradonna that look a bit underwhelming in a large, sunny, colourful border and wondered if penstemons would pack a bit more punch from a distance?
Are there any purple ones that are/remain that colour rather than verging on or fading to pink? Could they be kept compact - ideally no taller that 50cm?
I like the colour of Russian River but its a bit too tall. Hayloft have a compact one called Purple Perfection which might fit the bill, but its rather more expensive than all the rest...might be worth it if its a good purple?
Anything would need to be perennial, drought tolerant when established, ok in full sun and hardy to -10cm to cope with my winters.
Any suggestions?
Are there any purple ones that are/remain that colour rather than verging on or fading to pink? Could they be kept compact - ideally no taller that 50cm?
I like the colour of Russian River but its a bit too tall. Hayloft have a compact one called Purple Perfection which might fit the bill, but its rather more expensive than all the rest...might be worth it if its a good purple?
Anything would need to be perennial, drought tolerant when established, ok in full sun and hardy to -10cm to cope with my winters.
Any suggestions?
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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I'll see if I can figure out what it's called. It's a blue mauve, still green now. It's growing in just about the sunniest spot in my garden, on a steep bank and doesn't seem to ever lose its leaves. It's not the most floriferous (made up word - you know what I mean) penstemon ever, but it is the right height, habit and colour. Bear with me - I'm off to see my friend Google......
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
We've had a couple of sharp frosts (-4c last night) but they're still covered in fresh green foliage atm and one still had a couple of flowers until a few days ago.
They flower from early summer until the winter finally gets them. I cut them back around late Feb and they're away again in no time.
I also have Penstemon serrulatus which spreads and gets no more than about 50cm - with pale blue flowers and unusual leaves for a penstemon
I was unimpressed with caradonna too and replaced it with a S.Mainacht - truly fabulous and a million miles from the dull caradonna. It really stands out and flowers for months if you cut the dead spikes
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
My supplier says Raven gets to 80cm, so I thought it would be too tall, given most things here seem to grow taller than stated anyway...
Raven gets to about 2ft for me (on dry sandy soil and it doesn't get pampered). That'd be about 60cm in new money. But to my eye it's more of a deep plummy burgundy colour rather than purple. Blackbird is similar but not quite as dark.
Salvia "Nachtvlinder" is what I'd call a true dark purple but it looks dull on its own - it needs contrast. Also it tends to be sprawly and spreads by suckers.
I have high hopes for Veronica "Royal Candles" for this year - it's supposed to be short and a brighter purple.
(photo taken just now) It only finished flowering a few days ago
Salvia Mainacht - around July last year
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Yes Nollie it almost glows in the dark a very vibrant shade.
I'm looking forward to dividing it in the spring so I can have more around the garden.
Flowered from May until Oct last year
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
you can see it has a white 'lip' like sour grapes but it lacks the pinkiness and it stays the colour you can see. (Unless, I suppose, they are like hydrangeas and my acidic soil affects the colour of the flowers). I bought it un-named at a charity plant sale so unless anyone recognises it, I'm a bit stumped. I've gone through all the Google images I can find but can't see a match.
Have you tried short versions of either perovskia or nepeta? Are they too blue, maybe? They both have more colour punch than most of the penstemons (except 'Garnet' which is knockout but the wrong colour)
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”