Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Penstemon

MaireadCMaireadC Posts: 17
in Plants
My penstemon kind of ran out of steam last summer(it’s about 5 years old). I tried taking cuttings but they all died. I now notice that the centre is woody but it looks like branches have taken root around it. Would it be possible to cut out middle and have little pants or would it die. See photo for clearer idea. Any advice would be great! Thanks

Posts

  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    It looks like Penstemon 'Garnet'. Wait until spring arrives and there is active growth. You should then be able to dig up the rooted offspring, created naturally through a mechanism called layering, when the stem touches the ground and roots in situ.

    If they have a good root system then you should be able to transplant. If not, pot up, bring on until you see roots through the bottom of the pot and plant out. In either case, with the basal foliage in active growth you will be able to prune back the lack stems. This will encourage a bushy plant.

    I have had the exact same thing happen in my garden and successfully transplanted. 
  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    *lax stems, not lack stems. Too hasty with typing, distracted by small children.

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Yes, you can cut back the woody stems right back. I'd leave it until the weather is a bit milder though. I usually do mine about late March/early April. The new growth at the bottom will grow up and flower this year. If you want more plants you can take cuttings from the new growth or dig up rooted bits like @rachelQrtJHBjb says.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • MaireadCMaireadC Posts: 17
    Great news😊 Thanks Rachel and Jenny! 
Sign In or Register to comment.