Advice would be much appreciated. Planted penstemon with smallish blue flowers, late last summer - didn't flower, spread hugely, lovely flowers this may/early june, but now completely out of control and practically climbing out of the border. Long, thick almost root like stems with shoots coming off. I have cut back some and the shoots grow but it still looks awful. Should i be trying to dig down a bit and cover this all with soil/mulch? trying to upload a picture but computer says no!
I will try some cuttings but am not usually very good with them and have no greenhouse so difficult to find a place for them.
Penstemons are funny, some seem to be quite fussy and some seem to go nuts. Maybe it's the particular variety, maybe it's the site. We had a red Penstemon, probably 'Garnet' a while ago that was incredibly vigorous. When it looked scruffy it could be hacked right down, and quickly bounced back. Chunks hacked off from the mother soon formed bushy new plants. So you could probably cut your plant back a bit and then dig it up, replanting some chunks and potting on the rest to give away to friends.
You will get new plants by pulling up rooted stems, cutting them back a bit, and just replanting them to grow on in a sheltered spot. If the stems don't easily come up with roots attached, loosen under the plant with a fork.
Normally you wouldn't treat Penstemons so brutally, but it sounds like yours has uncommon vigour!
In contrast my mum has inherited some penstemons in her new garden that seem to be barely clinging to life.... The Penstemon 'Husker's Red' I planted for her is doing much better and seems to be an excellent plant.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Thanks for response WIllDB yes it looks as though some of these bits would root given half a chance - I will give that a go as a first step. And then if some of those survive I can dig up the main section, cut it back to a reasonable size and replant.
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Advice would be much appreciated. Planted penstemon with smallish blue flowers, late last summer - didn't flower, spread hugely, lovely flowers this may/early june, but now completely out of control and practically climbing out of the border. Long, thick almost root like stems with shoots coming off. I have cut back some and the shoots grow but it still looks awful. Should i be trying to dig down a bit and cover this all with soil/mulch? trying to upload a picture but computer says no!
I will try some cuttings but am not usually very good with them and have no greenhouse so difficult to find a place for them.
Ah done it - here's a pic - not very clear but you get the idea?
Penstemons are funny, some seem to be quite fussy and some seem to go nuts. Maybe it's the particular variety, maybe it's the site. We had a red Penstemon, probably 'Garnet' a while ago that was incredibly vigorous. When it looked scruffy it could be hacked right down, and quickly bounced back. Chunks hacked off from the mother soon formed bushy new plants. So you could probably cut your plant back a bit and then dig it up, replanting some chunks and potting on the rest to give away to friends.
You will get new plants by pulling up rooted stems, cutting them back a bit, and just replanting them to grow on in a sheltered spot. If the stems don't easily come up with roots attached, loosen under the plant with a fork.
Normally you wouldn't treat Penstemons so brutally, but it sounds like yours has uncommon vigour!
In contrast my mum has inherited some penstemons in her new garden that seem to be barely clinging to life.... The Penstemon 'Husker's Red' I planted for her is doing much better and seems to be an excellent plant.
Thanks for response WIllDB yes it looks as though some of these bits would root given half a chance - I will give that a go as a first step. And then if some of those survive I can dig up the main section, cut it back to a reasonable size and replant.
Can anyone tell me when to plant out penstemon cuttings that have taken and look really healthy