Penstemon 'Alice Hindley' (Beard Tongue)

£7.99

Position: full sun or partial shade
Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
Rate of growth: average Flowering period: July to September Flower colour: pale lilac-blue
Hardiness: borderline hardy
A large leaved penstemon that bears big, bell-shaped flowers from midsummer to autumn. It is one of the oldest hybrids in cultivation today and has been on the scene since 1931. It was first discovered by the nursery John Forbes of Hawick, who from 1870 until 1968 was the biggest Penstemon growers in the world. The fact that it has stood the test of time will give an indication of its many good qualities, and this has been backed up by being awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. The soft lilac-blue shades are tinged mauve-pink outside and have a white throat, and they look great in a cool themed border.Garden care: Remove the faded blooms regularly to prolong flowering. Apply a dry mulch around the base of the plant to protect the roots from frost damage in autumn. Leave the old foliage to protect the new shoots from frost and then cut it back by a third in spring.

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