now color in shade/ ... Penstemons

Hello Pauline,
        Depends upon the species and hybrid one is selecting for the garden. There
are quite a few species of Penstemon that grow around here and they are
generally found at the open edge of the woods, in clearings and openings,
or in ditches on the banks. To mention a few, P. digitalis, tenuiflorus,
hirsutus and brevisepalus. The P. smallii grows a bit farther south of
here.
        In general... and I stress in general... the more showy species are from
the western part of the US. Many of the cultivars and hybrids in the
nurseries that have the brightest colors have western species bred into
them. In this area the winters are too wet and we loose those unless grown
in sand and gravel beds. Just my personal experience and is not gospel of
any kind.
        Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
          around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com
----------
> From: Pauline & Gary <gnp@WILMINGTON.NET>
> To: shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
> Subject: Re: [SG] astilbes/ now color in shade
> Date: Friday, June 04, 1999 5:40 PM
>
> I didn't know you could grow Penstemons in the shade.  Mine is in full
sun
> and it's flower is a blue/red.  I love this plant because for us in Zone
8,
> it stays green all year and is a good filler plant since it bushes out
wide.
> Pauline Botelho
> Wilmington, NC
> gnp@wilmington.net
> -----Original Message-----
> From: GeneBush <genebush@OTHERSIDE.COM>
>> Date: Thursday, June 03, 1999 8:26 PM
> Subject: Re: [SG] astilbes/ now color in shade
>
>
> >Hello Nancy,
> >        Like most plants a mature stand shows off to best advantage. I
have
> three
> >mature clumps in the garden that are now about 7 or 8 years old. Very
nice,
> >indeed. Quite showy. There is probably a difference in color perception
> >between us. I happen to enjoy the quiter side of color. When planting I
> >usually go for the complimentary side of things rater than the
contrasting.
> >
> >        Have you tried some of the Penstemons that a re coming into
bloom
> now?
> >many of the hybrids that are crossed with the more show western species
do
> >not like our winters, but P. digitalis Huskers Red has nice foliage and
> >lavender-white flowers and is effective in mature clumps. My favorite,
> >however, is P. smallii. Reaches about two feet, can have up to 50
flowers
> >on a stem. Color is a peachy -rose-purple. Not an eye-popper, but
effective
> >and nice. Digitalis are just coming into bloom here. Several perennial
> >species and hybrids to play with there.
> >        Yes, I carry the Spigelia and have a few divisions remaining.
> >        Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
> >          around the woods - around the world
> >genebush@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index