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Last post 25-02-2005 1:54 PM by filippo lippi. 5 replies.
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I planted various Penstemons last year that did very nicely in my garden. I understood that they were hardy perennials so I was surprised to see that they have remained green & bushy over the winter. Should I cut them down now or before spring? John W. Chipping Ongar, Essex.
Hi John - some of my penstemons have still got flowers on them! I am not an expert but I think I will cut mine down before the end of February. I've got tulips growing underneath them and normally I would have cut the dead growth right back by now to give the tulips space and the bush growth of the penstemons looks rather untidy now. I live on the East Sussex coast and have only had one heavy frost over the winter so far - although sometimes February can be the coldest month.
As we often get very cold weather + snow in February I usually wait till later, otherwise the new growth gets damaged. In general the Pentstemons with narrow leaves seem to be hardier than the ones with broad leaves. I have several plants that have been going for many years and still cover themselves with flowers while others gave up the ghost long ago.
John, I cut my penstemons in spring when you can see new growth coming from the base, otherwise you might lo(o)se (sorry for I'm not from GB but love plants) them when late frost can kill them. I have penstemon garnet the easiest to grow in my garden, Stapleford gem, Russian River and a white one, hope they survive winter.
Despite my best intentions to follow the sensible advice and leave my penstemons until there was less danger of frost - I cracked!! I just couldn't stand it anymore and cut them back yesterday so fingers crossed they survive the rest of the winter. I will let you know how they get on!
I usually cut back my penstemons about now, I have garnet and flamingo growing in clay soil in quite shady conditions and they seem to do OK There's this website http://www.penstemania.co.uk/ but Bob hasn't updated it in quite a while.