Penstemons perfect for late summer

Monday, August 24 2009 16:49:15 by Editor

Adding colour to a garden in August as summer fades can be tricky, but penstemons offer a versatile and reliable choice.

Repeat flowering penstemons come in a myriad of colours and more than 250 varieties are currently available to choose from, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Writing for the newspaper, Val Bourne notes that the Raven is a particularly beautiful choice due to its "dusky, purple flowers" and "white bar-code pattern on the throat".

James Alexander-Sinclair, of the Guardian, has also noted the usefulness of penstemons in the late summer garden noting that they are not susceptible to pests such as slugs or particularly wet or dry weather.

The two gardening experts offer a number of pieces of advice for those attempting to grow the flower.

One being not to prune until April and Ms Bourne suggests taking cuttings between the months of June and August to avoid overflowering.