There are about 250 species of penstemons, sub-shrubs and perennials coming from Central and South America. In Britain, the perennials have captured the gardening public's imagination. Penstemon 'Stapleford Gem' is an old favourite, with blue, foxglove-like flowers that appear from midsummer to early autumn. These have two lips; the upper is two lobed in a pink lilac, while the lower is three lobed in white, with distinct purple blue lines. Its leaves are up to five inches long. 'Stapleford Gem' grows up to about 24 inches with an eighteen inch spread and should be grown in fertile, well drained soil. It is happy in full sun or partial shade, but in areas where frosts are common should be protected with a thick mulch in winter.
Propagation: Take softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer. Divide in spring. |
Sanguisorba canadensis doesn't make a great impact at first glance, but this rhizomatous perennial has great charm. It has pinnate leaves, divided into prettily veined leaflets, and bottlebrush flowers that appear from midsummer to mid-autumn, presenting as long cones of green buds. The buds open bottom to top, producing its bottlebrushes, made of small white flowers with sepals and prominent stamens but no petals. The bottlebrushes are good for cutting. It may be grown in a border, beside water, or naturalised in a damp meadow garden. Any moderately fertile, moist but well drained soil that does not dry out will suit it, as will a position in sun or dappled shade.
Propagation: Sow seed in containers in a cold frame in spring or autumn. Divide in spring or autumn. |
Salvia uliginosa is a native of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, and is a moisture loving perennial. Sadly, it is not reliably hardy, but it makes a valuable addition to a garden as it flowers from late summer until mid-autumn. Its flowers are a delectable clear blue and appear in short racemes on slender stalks of up to six feet tall. Its distinctly toothed leaves are oblong or lance shaped and are carried on branching stems. Salvia uliginosa should be grown in light, moderately fertile soil that is moist at all times. In areas where frosts are common, it is a good idea to take cuttings and overwinter them in a greenhouse.
Propagation: Sow seed in containers in a cold frame in spring. Divide in spring. Root basal or softwood cuttings in spring or early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in late summer with bottom heat. |
