Penstemon strictus

ROCKIES PENSTEMON

Penstemon strictus
ROCKIES PENSTEMON

Penstemon strictus is one of the longest lived, and most easily grown, of all the gorgeous Penstemons.
And spires of royal blue trumpets, blushed with rich purple, make a dramatic show during the summer months.

Though it is a neat and polite plant, gently forming a large attractive evergreen clump, to make  the perfect weed suppressing ground cover. As well as giving a rich show of flowers.
And it provides excellent stems of elegant cut flowers.

Evergreen perennial clump.

45cm H. x 45cm W.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Sow indoors at any time / or scatter outdoors in the garden during spring & autumn.

INDOORS: Sow seeds in punnets on surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then press the seeds gently to the surface of the mix to ensure good contact.
Now barely cover the seeds with fine mix/grit/sand.
Because these seeds need light to germinate.

Keep the punnet moist in well-lit position at 15-20°C.

Seeds emerge 14-21 days approx.

If the seeds are shy to germinate- then the seeds need chilling to break dormancy.
So wrap the moist, sown punnet in cling wrap & place in fridge (not freezer) for 4-6 weeks.

Then unwrap the punnet & return to a cool, well-lit position at 15-20°C.
Continue to keep moist.
Seedlings emerge in approx. 18-21 days.

SEED COUNT: 100 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

GROWING: Penstemon strictus

– Height with flowers: 60cm approx.
– Width: 60cm approx.
– Position: Full Sun is ideal, though Penstemon strictus will happily tolerate places that receive sunlight from about 5 hours a day.

– Soil: Penstemon strictus relishes well drained soil, and thrives in rocky soil in it’s native habitat. Though it will tolerate heavy and moist soils better than most of the Penstemon family, who usually prefer it on the dry side.
– Water: Penstemon strictus is amongst the most dry tolerant of all the Penstemon family. Though the whole family is noted for their water-wise abilities to cope without copious water, and Penstemon strictus stands out as being particularly drought resistant.
– Frost: Penstemon strictus is also particularly frost hardy, tolerating hard frosts down to at least -20C.

– Growth: Evergreen perennial clump. Massed flower spires above a neat, low, mat of foliage. So it is an excellent edging plant or compact groundcover.
– Bees & Birds: Native honey-eating birds simply can’t resist sipping nectar from these elegant trumpets, and will perform impressive acrobatic routines all day to make sure they don’t miss even one of the flowers. Bees and other beneficial pollinators find it equally irresistible.

– Easy Care: Cut back spent flower spires to encourage fresh, repeat blooming. Otherwise Penstemon strictus is a low maintenance, easily grown plant, and is not prone to pests and diseases.
– Fragrance: None.
– Deer & Rabbit resistant: Usually not first choice for these pests.
– Origin: Native to North America.