Penstemon 'Blackbird'

Penstemon 'Blackbird'

Penstemons are good plants for beginner gardeners as they are very hardy and undemanding as to their requirements . As long as the soil is well drained and they are given the occasional cutback of spent flowers, they will thrive across a range of climates. Here on the warm coast Penstemon 'Blackbird' thinks it is an English summer day and it is flowering better now than in January. This one was bred by professional gardener Ron Sidwell (1909-1993) of Evesham, Worcestshire in the UK around 1960, and is notable for the fine narrow stems which bend over under the weight of the rich dark maroon purple bell flowers. Each flower has a fine white stripe in its throat. The name Penstemon is derived from the Greek pente meaning five and stemon , stamen.
2017 update: I no longer grow Penstemons.