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<h4>You're browser does not support iFrames - here is an exerpt of the content</h4> <a href="http://gardenerstips.co.uk/blog/flowers/perfect-penstemon/">Click here to read the article in full</a> <p><img class="aligncenter" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2664/3797937405_41f0f4a50d.jpg" alt="" width="375" height="500" /></p> <p>Penstemon is also known as ‘the beard tongue’ and belongs to the family Scrophulariaceae, which contains over a hundred genera including Antirrhinum and Foxgloves. Penstemon are reliable <a title="perennials" href="http://gardenersvoice.com/category/perennials/">perennials</a> and are relatively trouble free and resistant to slugs and other <a title="garden pests" href="http://gardenersvoice.com/category/garden-pests/">garden pests</a>. Keep growing young plants to increase your stock.</p> <p><strong>Perfect Penstemon Growing</strong></p> <ul> <li>Penstemon flower for six months from May to November in a wide range of colours. Reds and pinks are my favourite but purples, blues and white come a close second.</li> <li> Penstemon mixed hybrids make good <a title="cut flowers" href="http://gardenersvoice.com/category/cut-flowers/">cut flowers</a>. Briefly expose the cut end to a flame, harvest in the morning and condition the stems by soaking them for several hours in warm water</li> <li>Penstemon are happy in borders, pots and containers in sun or part shade in virtually any well-drained soil. There are varieties for most situations.</li> <li>Border types Penstemons are more satisfactory when grown in masses rather than individually</li> <li>Penstemon is a good Bee plant attracting pollinating insects into the garden .</li> <li>Dead head regularly by removing the whole flower spike.</li> <li><strong>Top Tip </strong>- In the spring when all danger of frosts have passed cut back the old foliage down to the new green shoots. Penstemons can become woody and leggy if they are not pruned annually</li> <li>Propagate from cuttings in September (or May) see <a href="http://gardenerstips.co.uk/blog/tips/mixed-penstemon-plants/">Mixed Penstemon</a></li> </ul> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0881924296/richardpettin-21"><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0881924296.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg" alt="Book Cover" /></a></p> <p><span id="more-4451"></span></p> <p><strong>Growing From Seed</strong></p> <p>Seed is available from Chiltern’s and other merchants for the 6 inch high rockery Penstemon hirsutus pygmaeus through to the 6 foot high Penstemon palmeri. Alternatively gather seeds from friends, beg from clubs or buy mixtures to give a new Penstemon a try.</p> <p>A great resource is provided by Jim Swayne and Tom Clothier listing over 200 Penstemon species. In addition to height and width there are comments about habitat and germination temperatures. For detail check <a href="http://tomclothier.hort.net/page08.html">out the link</a></p> <p><strong>Penstemon History</strong><br /> Penstemon are native to USA and Mexico and survive and thrive in a variety of habitats. They are reputed to have been used by Native Americans to relieve toothache .<br /> Linnaeus named Chelone pentstemon in 1753 to correspond to the notion that the name referred to the unusual fifth stamen.<br /> Although several species were found in the 18th century, they continued to be classified as Chelone until about the 1820s. At the start of the 19th centuary the number of known species increased to 63 (now over 250) and seeds began to be offered for sale in Europe. The earliest UK Penstemon dates from 1813, with John Fraser offering four species in London. Subsequently many hybrids were developed in Europe. <a href="http://apsdev.org/cultivation/Cultivation_information.php">American Penstemon Society</a> was formed to promote both horticultural and botanical interest.</p> <p><strong>National Collections</strong> in the UK include Warren & Kate Gilchrist Tadley, Near Basingstoke, Pershore College of Horticulture and Clive & Kathy Gandley Gatcombe<br /> <strong><br /> Top 20 Penstemon Species</strong></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">Penstemon Arenarii<br /> Penstemon Barbartus good border varities<br /> Penstemon confertus yellow flowers<br /> Penstemon cyanthus blue rockery flower<br /> Penstemon Deusti<br /> Penstemon Gairdneriani<br /> Penstemon Harbouriani<br /> Penstemon Humiles<br /> Penstemon Multiflori<br /> Penstemon Penstemon<br /> Penstemon Proceri<br /> Penestmon hartwegii. Tubular Bells<br /> Penstemon barbatus Golden-beard Penstemon , or Beardlip penstemon<br /> Penstemon pinifolius Green pineneedle beardtongue<br /> Penstemon digitalis huskers red<br /> Penstemon eatonii Gray Eaton penstemon , Eaton’s penstemon<br /> Penstemon palmeri Gray Palmer’s penstemon , Palmer penstemon<br /> Penstemon hartwegii Benth. Hartweg’s beardtongue<br /> Penstemon heterophyllus. bunchleaf penstemon<br /> Penstemon hirsutus hairy beardtongue</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"> <p><strong>Top 20 Penstemon Hybrid Varieties</strong><br /> Descriptions from <a href="http://www.chiltonqp.btinternet.co.uk/penstemon_stock.htm">Chilton Nurseries</a></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">Apple Blossom Small flower. Pale pink with delicately streaked white throat. Clump forming. Ht 80cm. AGM<br /> Burgundy Dark reddish-purple flowers and streaked throat. Robust plant. Very dark red stems. Ht 1m.<br /> Catherine de le Mare Vivid purple-blue tinged pink. Spreading habit. Ht 45cm. AGM<br /> Chester Scarlet. Large intensely bright red flowers on red stems. Large, sparse foliage. Ht 90cm AGM<br /> Evelyn Slender rose-pink flowers. White throat streaked purplish red. Neat bushy plant, dense narrow foliage, very floriferous. Ht 50cm. AGM<br /> Flamingo Bright pink with large, round, white mouth. Ht 95cm.<br /> Geoff Hamilton Wine-red flowers, translucent in the sun. Flowers from summer to autumn.<br /> Heavenly Blue Bright blue flowers with a hint of mauve. Spreading. Ht 45cm.<br /> Margery Fish Pale blue to mauve flowers. Very floriferous. Spreading habit. Very hardy. Ht 45cm. AGM<br /> Maurice Gibbs Magenta with white mouth. Tall, erect plant. Ht 90cm. AGM<br /> Modesty Bright red-pink with white streaked throat. Shiny olive-green foliage. Ht 80cm.<br /> Mother of Pearl Cream tinged azure-blue and pale purple flowers with maroon streaked throat. Tall, erect plant. Soft green foliage. Ht 110cm.<br /> Pensham Czar Large violet flowers with white throats. Excellent growth habit.<br /> Pensham Kay Burton Vibrant pink. Vigorous large-flowered variety. Ht 1m.<br /> Port Wine Large reddy-purple flowers. Heavily marked throat with no dark patches at mouth. Tall, stiff, upright plant. Ht 1m. AGM<br /> Purple Bedder Deep purple to purple-red. Purple to green stems grow horizontal then vertical. Compact. Ht 70cm.<br /> Raven Large deep purple flowers with prominent white, purple-veined throat. Very hardy. Tall, very erect. Ht 110cm. AGM<br /> Schoenholzeri Firebird Bright scarlet flowers, bushy, narrow, green foliage. Very hardy.<br /> Snowstorm Pure white. Compact habit. Ht 70cm.<br /> Sour Grapes Deep purple with blue base creamy throat. 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