Penstemon hartwegii ‘Arabesque Violet’

A real favourite in our perennial section for its long flowering season. ‘Arabesque Violet’ produces dense spikes of large, bell-shaped violet flowers, each with a clean white throat. They are held on strong, upright stems above a bushy mound of semi-evergreen leaves, and the bees are always busy amongst them.

This Penstemon forms an upright, bushy clump, reaching about 60-70cm in height. It prefers a spot in full sun but will tolerate light shade. Plant it in fertile, well-drained soil; it won’t thank you for having wet feet, especially over winter.

To keep the flowers coming, remove faded blooms regularly. In late autumn, it’s a good idea to cut the plant back by about two-thirds to prevent wind rock, but leave the main pruning until new shoots appear at the base in spring. It’s a brilliant, reliable plant for the middle of a border.