Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants
Herbaceous Perennial

Penstemon superbus
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

superb beardtongue

A bushy, semi-evergreen perennial to 1.2m, with lance-shaped, grey-green leaves. Spikes of wide-flaring, tubular, coral red to deep pink flowers are produced in late spring and early summer

Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Chalk
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Pink Red Green Grey Silver
Summer Pink Red Green Grey Silver
Autumn Green Grey Silver
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Plantaginaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Clump forming, 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

Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in very well-drained soil in full sun. In cold areas, protect plant over winter with a dry mulch. See penstemon cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed, softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Regular deadheading can encourage a longer flowering season. In autumn, cut back to by about a third to tidy and reduce windrock, but leave enough to protect the crown over winter. In mid- to late spring cut back to lowest new shoots

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids and chrysanthemum eelworm

Diseases

May be susceptible to Powdery mildews

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.