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bearded penstemon | Plant Finder | Fill My Garden

Home/Plants/Perennials

Plants > Perennials

bearded penstemon

Penstemon barbatus

Pollinator Friendly

Genus: Penstemon
Family: Plantaginaceae
Common Names: bitterherb, bitterweed, broom-shell flower, cod head, firecracker plant, fish mouth

About this plant

P. barbatus is a tall, upright perennial to 1.8m with semi-evergreen basal rosettesand deciduous stems with leaves up to 20cm long. From early summer to early autumn bears loose spires of hanging, tubular red flowers 4cm long tinged pink to carmine.

Growing Information

Height

1.5-2.5 Metres

Spread

0.1-0.5 Metres

Hardiness

Foliage

Semi Evergreen

Growing Conditions

Sunlight

Full Sun

Soil

ClayLoamSandy

AcidAlkalineNeutral

Not Currently Available

This plant is not currently stocked at any garden centres on our platform.

Moisture

Well Drained

Aspect

West FacingSouth FacingEast Facing

Exposure

Exposed

Care Guide

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in a sheltered position in full sun or partial shade. In cold areas, protect plant overwinter with a dry mulch. See penstemon cultivation

Pruning

Deadhead after flowering to maintain vigour, then cut back to base in winter

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer, semi-hardwood cuttings in midsummer, or division in spring

Pests

May be attacked by slugs, snails and chrysanthemum eelworms

Diseases

May be subject to a downy mildew

Garden Uses

Uses

Cottage InformalGround Cover

Planting Places

Outdoor

Season of Interest

SpringSummerAutumnWinter

Size & Characteristics

Height

1.5-2.5 Metres

Spread

0.1-0.5 Metres

Habit

Clump Forming

Time to Full Height

Five To Ten Years