That clump has been there for about 5 years now. They don't have rhizomes, just ordinary roots. Garnet is the only one I've noticed that spreads in this way. - Maybe I need to check the others! I occasionally lose a couple of other varieties of penstemon over the winter due to wet, but Garnet does especially well in that usually hot and dry spot. I've got 5-6 other patches of them here and there. I've had a couple of patches of P. serrulatus for about 15 years now. I've lost a couple of Raven to wet soil over winter, same with White Bedder, but I can't recall one ever just dying even in a harsh winter. Most of my plants are 5-6 or more years old now and still doing fine!
Another one that does well here is P.Hidcote Pink (with a Raven in the middle)
PS - just seen your post above. I find them all hardy here in Essex. Raven os the only purple one I have, but there's a garden round the corner that has a purple one a bit short than Raven that has no white in the throat and that's been there for many years too - I've no idea of the name.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I don't think you'll have any worries about hardiness in N. London - it's the roots sitting in wet cold soil over a long period in winter that usually does for them.
My quest next year is to get some more blue varieties
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I’m also looking for a repeat flowering, upright, blue penstemon. I have Heavenly Blue and, while I really like the colour, I really can’t appreciate the sprawling habit. I keep it because it is very popular with the bees.
That's stunning @pitter-patter - that's definitely on the list A carefully placed support would stop it sprawling The other one I'm aware of is Electric Blue The Catherine de la Mare is a similar colour to the Cascade penstemons I have
Oh yes - I had Sour Grapes many years ago. Lovely blue flowers, but fade to pink quite soon as I remember
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Posts
They don't have rhizomes, just ordinary roots. Garnet is the only one I've noticed that spreads in this way. - Maybe I need to check the others!
I occasionally lose a couple of other varieties of penstemon over the winter due to wet, but Garnet does especially well in that usually hot and dry spot. I've got 5-6 other patches of them here and there.
I've had a couple of patches of P. serrulatus for about 15 years now.
I've lost a couple of Raven to wet soil over winter, same with White Bedder, but I can't recall one ever just dying even in a harsh winter. Most of my plants are 5-6 or more years old now and still doing fine!
Another one that does well here is P.Hidcote Pink (with a Raven in the middle)
PS - just seen your post above.
I find them all hardy here in Essex.
Raven os the only purple one I have, but there's a garden round the corner that has a purple one a bit short than Raven that has no white in the throat and that's been there for many years too - I've no idea of the name.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
My quest next year is to get some more blue varieties
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/penstemon-heterophyllus-catherine-de-la-mare/
That Heavenly Blue certainly lives up to it's name !
A carefully placed support would stop it sprawling
The other one I'm aware of is Electric Blue
The Catherine de la Mare is a similar colour to the Cascade penstemons I have
Oh yes - I had Sour Grapes many years ago. Lovely blue flowers, but fade to pink quite soon as I remember
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.