Date: Fri 15-Aug-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DONNAM

Quick Words:

Gardener-Penstemons-Bleach

Full Text:

SUBURBAN GARDENER: PENSTEMONS: SPECTACULAR YET SUBTLE

"I don't know of any other perennial that can be striking yet subtle and have

a gentleness that is often lacking in similar sized plant."

-Clive Gandley, curator,

The British National

Collection.

By Anthony C. Bleach

Why they have not caught on yet is puzzling, but the future does look rosy.

A year or two ago, it was "Penstemons?" but now The White Flower Farm in

Litchfield has at least three types, and Twombley Nursery in Monroe lists

seven. At first glance, the flowers look like small foxgloves or elves' pointy

hats with wide brims that are formed by the five petal lobes which flare

outwards.

All have five stamens, the characteristic on which the name is based. As well

as having the virtue of a wide color range from pale pink to lipstick reds or

dark purple to blue or pure white, they bloom sturdily from June to frost,

fitting smoothly into most combinations of the mixed border.

America is home to all but a few of the 270 or so recognized species. At least

one species can be found in every one of the mainland states, growing in

mountainous regions, on the prairies, the high plains and even in the

woodlands of the east coast.

P. barbatus , with reflexed lobes that give the plant its common name of

"shark's head," was introduced to gardens in 1784. Graham Stuart Thomas

describes it so: "From a tuft of basal leaves spring branching stems with many

tubular flowers, like small foxgloves, very gay and of bright scarlet touched

with pink in the hairy throat."

"Rose Elf" is a cultivar of P. barbatus , with masses of clear rose blooms on

a compact 18-22-inch plant. It is hardy to Zone 3 and only needs dividing

every three or four years.

P. caespitosus , "Claude Barr," has bright purple flowers on mats of foliage

only three to six inches high. It is named after a famous plantsman from South

Dakota. P. fruitcosus, "Purple Haze," is an evergreen bushy mound of eight

inches. In late spring it is smothered with lilac-purple flowers.

In contrast, the hybrid "Sour Grapes" has 24 to 30-inch stems holding flowers

in clusters like bunches of blue-violet grapes. P. pinifolius ("Mersea

Yellow") is a bushy little evergreen, a foot high, with bright yellow trumpets

for flowers.

Some years ago, an unusual reddish Penstemon was noticed in the garden of

Verla Heitman in Nuckolls County, Neb. A young plant breeder at the

University, Dale Lindgren collected seeds from it and worked for several years

to develop plants with truly intense red foliage and pure white flowers.

Dr Lindgren named it after his beloved school, calling it "Husker Red." In

1996, Husker Red was selected by the Perennial Plant Association as the most

outstanding perennial of the year.

I have seen how it can give grace and lightness to a border at Pine Meadow

Gardens in Southbury. It is a versatile plant. It can be massed at the back of

the border, using at least five plants. It is very effective in combination

with a variety of companions like the rich green foliage of Delphiniums or

Veronica "Sunny Border Blue," or the pink of the geranium "Biokova." Its

leaves contrast beautifully with the open, airy texture of Coreopsis

"Moonbeam" and also with silver leaves like Artemesia "Powis Castle" and

Achillea "Moonshine."

Plant them in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Wet feet in winter will kill

Penstemons. They thrive in full sun or slight shade.

Loosen the soil in an area two to three times the diameter of the pot it came

in. Thoroughly work in a complete fertilizer like 10-6-4 or 10-10-10, at the

rate of 2-3 pounds per 100 square feet into the top six to eight inches of

soil. Remove the plant from the pot and set it at the same depth as in the

pot. Firm the soil and water thoroughly.

Husker Red will grow to about 30 inches, carrying as many as 50 bright white

flowers on each of its 25 or so graceful flower stalks during July and August.

But of course its most sterling virtue is the rich bronze-red foliage which

makes a dull green border intriguing again.

(Anthony C. Bleach coordinates the horticulture certificate and degree program

at Naugatuck Valley Community-Technical College in Waterbury. He will be

teaching a course in perennials in the fall.)