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One of the most incredible blue hued penstemon, Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Catherine de la Mare’ really must be seen to be believed. A profusion of open, tubular, foxglove-like blooms in shades of lilac, mauve and electric blue are held on strong, wiry stems above evergreen clumps of bright, lush blue-green linear foliage from May to October, and often longer. Penstemon were once sought after by Native Americans as the roots soothed toothache, British botanists soon became excited by the fact the plant had a fifth stamen and named them Pent-Stamen. Loved by bees and pollinators, they are oblivious to drought or rain and not fussy on soil conditions as long as it’s well-drained, preferring sun or partial shade. Reaching a mature height and spread of around 60cm, Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Catherine de la Mare’ has been ranked with an RHS hardiness rating of H4, so other than a mulch for the winter, should not require further protection across most of the UK.
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Key Information
| Latin Name | Penstemon heterophylla ‘Catherine de la Mare’ |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Beardtongue |
| Hardiness | H4 (-5 to -10°C) |
| Colour | Blue |
| Format | Young Plants |
| Position | Full-Sun, Part-Shade, Part-Sun |
| Foliage | Semi-Evergreen |
| Height in Maturity (m) | 0.60 m |
| Spread in Maturity (m) | 0.60 |
| Soil Conditions | Chalk Clay Loam Sand, Chalk Clay Sand |
| Soil Acidity | Acid Alkaline Neutral |
| Aspect | East-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing |
| Drought Tolerant | Yes |
| Good for pots | Yes |
| Good for wildlife | Yes |
| Good for pollinators | Yes |
| Good for cutting | Yes |
