The Mystery Purple Penstemon I posted about last week now has a name, thanks to Tony
Avent: 'Midnight'. Plant Delights last offered it in 2000, but Annie's Annuals sells it.
Avent: 'Midnight'. Plant Delights last offered it in 2000, but Annie's Annuals sells it.
Penstemon X from clay and limestone.
Leaves
Compare to Small's Beardtongue
To me the flowers and leaves of Penstemon X and Small's Beardtongue
look pretty different. I think Penstemon X looks more like Penstemon
laevigatus, which can have lilac-pink as well as white flowers.
look pretty different. I think Penstemon X looks more like Penstemon
laevigatus, which can have lilac-pink as well as white flowers.
What do you think?
UPDATE: Gail informed me that local plant experts believed Penstemon X to be P. calycosus, commonly known as Small Beardtongue. (Not to be confused with Small's Beardtongue, lol.)
I've never grown a penstemon except Husker's Red but they are both beautiful. I expecially like the dark one. Do they have a long bloom time?
ReplyDeleteMarnie
The second one is what I have. I just assume it is a wild snapdragon? Maybe a variant of Penstemon palmeri?
ReplyDeleteI really like it. I don't grow any penstemons and I don't know why. They are really nice.
ReplyDeleteI think your Penstemons are beautiful but I can't help ya on the name - sorry.
ReplyDeleteDo they have a short life? Mine over the years die and I have to start over.
Gail has a penstemon X too--maybe we can just decide that's it's official name and be done with it! :)
ReplyDeleteMarnie, they do have a pretty long bloom time -- at least 3 weeks, I would say.
ReplyDeleteTina, I think P. palmeri is native to the West, and likes really dry conditions, so I don't think it's that one.
Phillip, there's Penstemons that can easily handle half a day of shade -- Smooth, Small's and 'Midnight'.
Raingardener, I think longevity depends on the species. Small's is short-lived, but I've had Smooth Beardtongue for 6 years now, and I've read reports of Midnight living for well over 10 years.
I'm glad you found out the name. I adding that to my list :)
ReplyDeleteWish I could help you out again Sweet bay but nothing is surfacing right now ... will do some research! Very lovely in any case.
ReplyDeleteWell you're halfway there.
ReplyDeleteI'm growing penstemon this year.
I've a variety called 'Mrs Hindley' planted under the rose pergola.
I'm going to take some cuttings as apparently they take quite easily.
Hi Sweetbay! I sent the photos to my local native gurus and they believe it is P calycosus! It is quite different from Small's penstemon for sure...I love my Penstemon X!
ReplyDeleteGail
Sweetbay, Try this link. http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/peca7.htm
ReplyDeleteGail
Thanks Gail! We have an ID!
ReplyDeleteMy dear friend! Isn't blogging the most fun after gardening and aren't blogging friendships the best! gail
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! :)
ReplyDeleteI have trouble remembering the names of things and where I put the tags. I think I have one like the first one, and I should plant a couple more close by.
ReplyDeleteLovely pics! I inheritated quite a few penstemons from the previous owner of our property. I never really appreciated them until recently. Mine are just starting to bloom. -Jackie
ReplyDeleteSue these penstemons came to me as mysteries. :) Although it's amazing about the name tags (shakes head) -- it seems I write dozens, but whenever I go to find the name tag for a plant, it's gone!
ReplyDeleteJackie, I've come to appreciate penstemons a lot more too, especially after realizing different species can grow in many different conditions.
That one is a beauty for sure. There are SO many penstemons, I definitely am not acquainted with even half of them. I'm glad you think you've figured out the name. I do remember penstemon x from C&L!
ReplyDeleteI don't have any penstemons, but I sure would love some. Both those colors are beautiful, but I especially love the deep purple.
ReplyDeleteGail is right...blogging friendships are great! We learn so much from one another.
I'm so glad you IDed our mystery purple penstemon! I've been buried in Zazzle and haven't read this blog entry until now. Yay!
ReplyDelete