5 Penstemons with pink flowers

Penstemon hybrid 'Polaris Rose': a vivid pink flowering with a white throat.

You can rely on Penstemon ‘Polaris Rose’ to bring colour and light to the garden in summer! For many weeks from June to August, this perennial produces small bell‑shaped flowers. They bear a vivid rose colour, which contrasts beautifully with a white throat that catches the light. They are arranged in dense clusters, supported by sturdy stems.

‘Polaris Rose’ has a compact, bushy habit, reaching around 50 cm in all directions. The lanceolate foliage is a bright green.

Hardiness is somewhat limited—about -9°C in well‑drained soil—but this Penstemon benefits from tolerating occasional drought and will grow in any ordinary soil.

Plant this variety in a border, at the edge, in a rock garden not too dry, or in a large tub. In the latter case, pair it with other summer‑flowering plants. Look to Agastache and yarrow (Desert Eve Deep Rose, New Vintage Violet). Add grasses, such as a Pennisetum x advena ‘Rubrum’ with purple foliage.

The Penstemon hybrid ‘Hewell Pink Bedder’: an adorable range of pinks

‘Hewell Pink Bedder’ has several ornamental attributes, which have already earned it an award by the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society in England. Yet it is not yet widely grown, though it deserves to be adopted in more gardens, on terraces or balconies.

Throughout the summer, it produces numerous bell-shaped flowers. In terms of colour, they blend classic pink, pale pink and pink-tinged white to create an adorable gradient. A white throat, streaked with pale purple forming patterns, finishes off this enchanting display.

This bushy, well-balanced variety reaches 80 cm in all directions. It features grey-green foliage.

This penstemon is not among the hardiest, but it tolerates drought and soil type.

In a naturalistic border, pair ‘Hewell Pink Bedder’ with generous annuals such as the Damask Nigella and the cosmos. Also add asters and campanulas.

Penstemon digitalis 'Dakota Burgundy': pink flowering, accented by dark foliage.

The Penstemon digitalis ‘Dakota Burgundy’ stands out for its dark, glossy foliage, whose colour evolves over time. Initially purplish-green, it becomes chocolate-purple, then takes violet hues that are almost black during the summer. These leaves create a striking contrast with the summer flowering, revealing a pink with a mauve-lavender tinge. The flowers are also borne on such dark stems that they appear black.

Compact, this Penstemon reaches around 40 cm in height and spread, making it suitable for any spot.

It is hardy down to -15°C, provided winters are not too wet. For the rest, like its congeners, it will enjoy a sunny position and well-drained soil to avoid any waterlogging.

‘Dakota Burgundy’ will find a place in borders, beds, or pots on the terrace and balcony. To highlight it, pair it with white flowering, such as dwarf roses with a natural style. Grow it alongside ‘Princess of Wales’ or ‘Bees Paradise Ivory’. Blue-lilac flowering will also create a beautiful harmony, as with the Perovskia or the Caryopteris.

The Penstemon hybrid 'Apple Blossom': soft pink flowers.

The ‘Apple Blossom’ variety is a reliable choice for the garden. Throughout the summer and into early autumn, it continually produces adorable little flowers in a soft dusty pink. This colour contrasts with a delicate white throat. The overall effect is a true pink mist.

The fine lanceolate foliage frames this delicate flowering. It remains evergreen through mild winter frosts.

This bushy perennial grows to 70 cm tall and 40 cm wide. If its hardiness is limited, particularly in damp soil (up to -9°C), it proves fairly water-efficient in summer. It is also fairly tolerant of soil type, provided it is well-drained.

In the garden, it will sit well in borders or in not-too-dry rock gardens. Of course, it will also look good in a pot on a sunny terrace or balcony. In that case, pair it with as companions agapanthus with lovely blue or white flowers, as well as a shrub sage (Victoria Blue or Blue Note).

Penstemon smallii: a perennial with pink flowers that is easy to care for.

Penstemon smallii will bring a rustic, natural touch to the garden. In July and August, or September depending on how mild the climate is, it produces numerous bell-shaped flowers. Subtly bi-coloured, they display a dark pink on the outside and a lighter pink at the heart. The foliage is just as charming and ornamental: initially dark green, it develops chocolate to purple hues over time.

At maturity, this bushy plant reaches around 50 cm in all directions. It will thrive in full sun, or partial shade in the warmer regions of the country.

Hardy and easy to propagate thanks to its self-sown seedlings and tolerance, this species is really easy to grow.

In an English-style garden, plant this penstemon in a border with other summer-flowering perennials, such as the snapdragons, the digitalis (foxglove) or the dahlias.