I can remember Garnet a lot easier, so I'll stick with that, but I do put apostrophes around it. And I still call sedums sedums too - I just don't care
I have found S.Caradonna disapointing. I replaced mine with Salvia Mainacht which I am thrilled with and flowered from June-Sept.
2 of my favourite Penstemon The blue P.Serrulatus and the red P.'Garnet'
I can also recommend P. Raven and P. Hidcote Pink. Raven was still in flower in Dec.
S. Caradonna is extremely beautiful and tough, but mine has never really rebloomed that well. S. Ostfriesland was one I was looking at that's supposed to flower for a bit longer, but I will try Mainacht after your recommendation.
I am trying P. Raven this year, but I love the look of your P. serrulatus.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
I’m with @Pete.8 on the Caradonna, quite short flowering season, doesn’t reflower much and, although the dark purple is lovely while it lasts, it can disappear in a border - I’m in the process of replacing some of my Caradonna with Mainacht on his advice. My potted on Mainacht is just getting a flower stem or two and it is a really lovely, brighter purple. Thanks Pete
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
I'm very pleased you're happy with Mainacht @Nollie. I still have a couple of caradonna, but there's no comparison with Mainacht. When the sun catches it it looks as if it's illuminated, and if you dead head it just goes on flowering for months
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
When I bought the Serulatus @WillDB it was misnamed, it was with the help of a forum member that identified it. Unusually it's an evergreen penstemon and the flowers are a lovely shade of blue that my photo doesn't do justice to. Also known as the Cascade Penstemon as it spreads quite a bit and would tumble over a wall. A lovely plant and the bright green serrated leaves cheer up the garden in winter.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Cheers, @Pete.8, the Mainacht will be a good purple substitute for the Caradonna I think. I have also just ordered some Penstemons, Sour Grapes and Raven. That's the trouble with reading this forum, dammit. I can’t help myself, its just far too tempting
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
I've got two Salvia Nemorosias to watch and compare this summer. Salvia nemorosia sensation and a caradonna. Both were planted last summer but the sensation had a six week head start and gave a decent display; the caradonna went in just in time for the drought and never quite took off.
The Sensation is currently a thick but low mound of leaves, the Caradonna is more of a slim upright collection of stems. I suspect the caradonna is going to flower first but the Sensation will give me more. I might jump on the Mainacht train next year if I'm not sufficiently impressed this time around.
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Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I am trying P. Raven this year, but I love the look of your P. serrulatus.
I still have a couple of caradonna, but there's no comparison with Mainacht. When the sun catches it it looks as if it's illuminated, and if you dead head it just goes on flowering for months
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Unusually it's an evergreen penstemon and the flowers are a lovely shade of blue that my photo doesn't do justice to. Also known as the Cascade Penstemon as it spreads quite a bit and would tumble over a wall. A lovely plant and the bright green serrated leaves cheer up the garden in winter.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
The Sensation is currently a thick but low mound of leaves, the Caradonna is more of a slim upright collection of stems. I suspect the caradonna is going to flower first but the Sensation will give me more. I might jump on the Mainacht train next year if I'm not sufficiently impressed this time around.
I have no penstemon insights to share...