Re: Penstemons
- Subject: Re: Penstemons
- From: E*@aol.com
- Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 10:54:05 EDT
In a message dated 8/21/02 8:51:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time, CAMOAT@aol.com
writes:
<< In a previous post someone was asking about plants that look good this
time
of the year, one of the best perfomers in the uk at this time is Penstemons
and also perennial lobelia 'Fan deep red' etc, but i don't recall these
being
mentioned in past listings. I'm intrigued as i believe that some penstemons
are native to the US >>
Many of the best hybrids and nearly all of the seed I have seen are British.
We have a lot of seed under British labels now, so the Penstemons can be
found and grown from seed.
It is alway called a "short-lived" perennial here and it is hardy to my zone
4. the short-lived idea may scare off some perennial growers and I don't
recall seeing it for sale as plant, locally.
I have a big clump of tall red Penstemons that are probably three or four
years old, grown from seed. It is easy from seed.
The fact that it is American native is tricky in that is mostly unknown in
the East as most species are Western natives with the dry winter requirement.
They are usually grown by rock gardeners and are very difficult. The large
Eastern plants are for some reason much liked by the British and from you
guys come all the seed. A perennial grower usually starts with plants and
after a while looks into seed so maybe that it is a good good that you
mention it. It is one plant never free of hummingbirds and has very long
bloom period. Like dryish soil, needs very little watering.
Claire Peplowski
NYS z4
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
