Penstemon Schoenholzeri - Beardtongue

What other perennial laughs at drought, rain, cold, and soil, and blooms continuously in cherry red from summer to autumn? Here is Penstemon 'Schoenholzeri', formerly called Penstemon 'Firebird', a hybrid that will thrive in all gardens. It sends up airy spikes adorned with long tubular flowers on a tuft of often evergreen, bright green foliage. This sturdy and hardy variety stands out in borders or in pots on a patio and creates fantastic bouquets. Plant in full sun, in well-drained, dry to moist soil.

Penstemon 'Schoenholzeri' is a plant from the Plantaginaceae family whose hybrid origin is lost in the American West. This plant, intermediate between an herbaceous perennial and an undershrub, forms a small upright bush 80cm (32in) tall when in flower, with a spread of 40cm (16in). It consists of slender stems that bear light, elegant, bright green foliage. The leaves, arranged in pairs opposite each other on the stem, are tapered and persist on the plant if the winter is not too cold. The flowering period takes place from June to October. The flowers bloom along the stems, in the form of intense cherry red tubes, open at their ends like those of foxgloves, revealing a pinkish throat. The fruiting is not of interest. it is preferable to remove faded flowers.

Penstemons, with their harmonious bushy and compact silhouette, are essential perennial plants in the garden. They provide a generous summer flowering and bear a cheerfully rustic appearance. The hardiness of 'Schoenholzeri' allows it to be included in all gardens, in soft and well-drained soil. It excels in wild-looking flower gardens. Perfect in flower beds, mixed borders, and rockeries, it can also be grown in pots. Its flowers will make beautiful bouquets. Harmoniously blending into summer borders or rockeries, it can be paired with both perennials and annuals. It will match beautifully with lady's mantle, sedums, coreopsis, gauras, yarrows, phlomis, and Verbascums.