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Herbaceous Perennial

Penstemon 'Pensham Dorothy Wilson' (Pensham Series)
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

penstemon 'Pensham Dorothy Wilson'

An upright, semi-evergreen perennial to 90cm with narrow, dark green leaves and spires of bell-shaped, lilac flowers produced from mid-summer to autumn

Synonyms
Penstemon 'Dorothy Wilson'
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Purple Green
Autumn Purple Green
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

South–facing or East–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H4
Botanical details
Family
Plantaginaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Bushy
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 plants overwinter with a dry mulch. See penstemon cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer, semi-hardwood cuttings in midsummer, or by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Deadhead regularly or, after flowering, shorten flowered stems by half to encourage further flowering. Cut back to just above new shoots, or lowest healthy leaves, in spring after frost has passed

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails and chrysanthemum eelworms

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews

Get involved

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