RE: Penstemons as half-hardy Perennials?
- To:
- Subject: RE: Penstemons as half-hardy Perennials?
- From: M* D*
- Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 07:23:19 -0700
- Importance: Normal
Hi Susan and all,
I find it interesting that you consider Penstemons as half hardy because
they don't survive your wet climate. Since you live 5-10 miles due east of
me, I think I get equal rainfall but not as cold as your location. I have
clumps of P. 'Blue Midnight', 'Ruby', 'Garnet', 'Sour Grapes', 'Husker's
Red' , 'Appleblossom', 'Huntington Pink', 'Hopley's variegated', 'Blue of
Zurich', cardwellii, smallii and 2 other species with "lost" names growing
and blooming in my garden for several years and am adding 'Raven' (a dark
purple/black) this year. I know that gardeners locally complain of their
Penstemons being short lived and it always surprises me.
Here are a couple of things I do that may make the difference. My beds are
in part shade and well drained. I lay Fir boughs that blow off my trees in
windy weather over the crowns for the winter. The boughs create an air
pocket of warmer air and also deflect some of the rain water away from the
crowns.......or it could be dumb luck!
Marilyn Dube'
Natural Design Plants
Hardy Perennials, Choice Tropicals
Portland, OR Zone 8b
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-perennials@mallorn.com [owner-perennials@mallorn.com] On
Behalf Of Saxton, Susan
Sent: Thursday, April 15, 1999 11:50 AM
To: 'perennials@mallorn.com'
Subject: RE: Half-hardy Perennials
Another half-hardy perennial I really enjoy is penstemmon. They are so
beautiful, but often can't tolerate my wet soil. The one exception to that
is Blue Midnight, which has lived even through this terribly wet winter.
Susan Saxton, zone 6b
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