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Big deal about penstemons?
Hi, I don't understand the big deal about penstemons...I've heard a lot of raving about them. I understand they are hardy perrenials but the flowers seem to all be at the top and mostly foliage below. They seem to look quite weedy and spangly. No offence to people who have lots of them.
I asked an expert about the flowers being at the top, he said said oh yes they're like lupis or foxgloves..but I don't think they are...all the photos and plants I've seen have a few flowers just at the top. I did buy one recently (Raven). I just want to know what all the fuss is about. If I like it I'll buy some more but I'm not sure. Any thoughts?
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Well, would you like the option of foliage on top and flowers below?
I currently have a purple one flowering at the back of a border that is 3ft high. The slugs don't eat them, unlike lupins. My prize lupin is a disgrace.
If it stops persisting down, I'll take a photo.
Ahh yes a photo would be good. I should have rephrased that sorry. I mean I know most flowers are leaves at the bottom, flowers at the top, but compared to other tall vertical plants, there seem to be less flowers on penstemons. But maybe I am wrong, what do I know!! Oh okay so if they're slug proof that's a big attraction. My dahlias and marigolds have been decimated. And my lupins too have been all chewed up by snails too. The lupins looked so pretty until that point. The rain also didn't help - it's on the floor now.
Can anyone tell me anymore perennial slug proof plants with flowers? I planted a coreopsis, tanecetum and a shasta daisy yesterday - will these be eaten up by slugs too? Do slugs attack clematis, as I bought one and need to plant it.
That's great, thanks aym. I shall try this one out and see if I like it. Anything low maintenance is good.
Well you all seem to have given me enough reason to try them out! Oh it's not just me then - we have a huge oriental poppy which has flopped now (because of rain? or just because it's floppy?) and made a big mess. should I cut it back or leave it? somebody told me that you can get a second bloom off oriental poppies if you cut head off. Is this true? Sorry, am going off topic. I have so many questions everyday - I don't know if I should be starting new threads for everything!?
Cut the heads off oriental poppies, as soon as the petals have dropped. Feed and water!!!!(not needed here at the mo) and they often reflower.
Bee friendly & slug/snail resistant is the reason I brought them plus I like the bell like flowers. If you cut them back in Spring they won't look as foliage heavy.
Hi wakeshine!
First of all, as with most plants, there are "penstemons" and "penstemons". What I mean is that there exist a number of different species and cultivars of plants all called "penstemons" which share some characteristics but have varying other characteristics.
I leave it to penstemon specialists/collectors/fans to answer your question in more detail, as I do not consider myself a specialist, but certainly a fan. I discovered the existence of that plant 15 years ago when we created our first tiny ornamental garden. We've had the classical Penstemon 'Garnet' (aka P. ‘Andenken an Friedrich Hahn’); another well-known one, P. 'Alice Hindley'; a white one, P. 'snowstorm' and a curious one, P. barbatus 'Coccineus'. The only species that survived all those years is Penstemon 'Garnet', a very hardy species. Over the years it has been moved, divided several times and grows the better for it. I thoroughly recommend it.
More photos here : http://www.rezeau.org/wp-garden/en/penstemon-andenken-en-friedrich-hahn-2/
Two years ago we planted a new one, a lovely light pink with smaller flowers, P. x gloxinioides ‘Apple blossom’.
Re your original remark about penstemons having (to few?) flowers at the top and (too much?) foliage at the bottom, your point of view may apply to some penstemon species more than to others. It also depends upon your general view of what a garden or a mixed border should look like. And-of course-herbaceous species such as penstemons should never be considered per se, but in their global environment. I find these plants go well with a range of other plants. Their long flowering period is precious, too.
The only problem I have with them is the nature of my soil which is fairly heavy and damp in the winter, a condition that most penstemons do not like.
Wakeshine : I love penstemmons. A slug free alternative to delphiniums is Aconitum (poisonous so wear gloves) summer, autumn varieties in shades of blue plus white.
I have 'Hidcote Pink' which I find lasts about 2-3 years but I take plenty of cuttings which are usually successful.. I also have 'Garnet' which is so reliable and a beautiful gap filler as it spreads out and up. I like them enough to try many different types with varying success - Raven and Sour Grapes seem to last a bit longer than some of the others.. I think they look pretty good alongside lupins, and many other plants. They seem to mix and match well but the taller ones look better in groups of at least 3. Garnet is a lovely 'dot' plant. Give them a go!