Penstemon 'Raven' (Bird Series)
penstemon 'Raven'
A semi-evergreen perennial making a clump of stiffly erect stems to 1m in height, with narrowly ovate leaves and panicles of deep purple, bell-shaped flowers 4.5cm in length, the throat white, striped deep red
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Purple White | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Penstemon may be deciduous or evergreen perennials or subshrubs, with simple, narrow leaves and racemes or panicles of bell-shaped or funnel-shaped flowers in summer and early autumn
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. In cold areas, protect plant overwinter with a dry winter mulch. See penstemon cultivation for further advice
Propagation
Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-hardwood cuttings in midsummer. Propagate by division in spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Gravel garden
- Wildlife gardens
- Flower borders and beds
- Wall side borders
Pruning
Deadhead after flowering to maintain vigour. Then cut back to base in early spring
Pests
May be susceptible to slugs, snails, glasshouse red spider mite, and leaf and bud eelworms
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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