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Herbaceous Perennial

Penstemon heterophyllus 'Electric Blue'
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

A clump-forming evergreen, upright, bushy penstemon with silver-blue to green foliage. Tubular-shaped electric blue flowers tinged with purple appear on red stems in summer and autumn

Synonyms
Penstemon 'Electric Blue'

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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
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Red Blue Grey
Summer Red Blue Purple Blue Grey
Autumn Red Blue Purple Green Blue Grey
Winter Red Blue Grey
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H4
Botanical details
Family
Plantaginaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
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 mid summer or semi-hardwood cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Gravel garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Low Maintenance
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders
Pruning

Deadhead after flowering to maintain vigour, prune to new shoots lower down in spring

Pests

Maybe susceptible to slugs and snails also chrysanthemum eelworm

Diseases

Maybe susceptible to powdery mildew

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