Penstemon virens

MISTY BLUE

CARPET PENSTEMON

Penstemon virens
MISTY BLUE CARPET PENSTEMON

Penstemon virens is one out of the box different.

Carpeting ground cover Penstemon

Penstemons are usually thought of as bushy plants – but Penstemon virens is different.
It is a carpeting groundcover instead.
Forming a dense mat of glossy, deep emerald green, evergreen foliage.

Effective weed suppression & soil protection

Which is very effective at suppressing weeds and protecting the soil surface all year round.
Not invasive but a great groundcover, each plant spreading to approx. 30cm. diameter

Misty blue haze of flower stems

Then in late spring and early summer it is a mist of sky-blue flower stems, standing 20cm. above the low, dense carpet of foliage.

Delicious sky blue mist

Penstemon virens melts the heart with its sky-blue colouring – there is no other Penstemon like it.
The flowers are very fine and slender, each sky-blue trumpet flushed with royal purple at the base.
And it gives such a misty, hazy look, as the blooms are so fine, and stacked so densely up the flower stems.

Tough & dry resistant

This stunning sky-blue groundcover hails from the wild west of North America.
Where it thrives amongst scrubby dry woodland, on rocky slopes, and amongst dry, ponderosa pine forests.
So it takes the the extremes of summer heat and winter cold in its stride; and is very comfortable in the drier parts of Australia.

Water-wise, frost & heat hardy

Penstemon virens is perfect for water-saving, low maintenance landscaping – as it has low water needs, and is a drought and heat resistant groundcover once established.
It is also soundly frost hardy.
But it will be miserable and quickly leave you if planted in wet places or spots with poor drainage.

Thrives in gravel, sandy spots or pots

Penstemon virens does best on well-drained soils; and will thrive happily in rocky, gravelly soils, sandy soils and well drained loams.
It also relishes Full to Partial Sun providing it is well drained; and is both heat and cold hardy.

Full Sun to Part Shade

Vive la difference – Penstemon virens will happily grow in some shade as well as full sun positions, as it is naturally adapted to scrubby forest areas.
So some dappled sunlight is sufficient if you cannot provide full sun.

Profuse & long blooming in pots or garden

This little sky-blue beauty is perfect for decorative pots.
As it is such a compact, bushy evergreen, with profuse, long blooming during spring and early summer.
No-one can resist the misty sky blue effect.

Beloved by bees, pollinators and honey-eater native birds

The slender, fine trumpet flowers are rich in nectar and are magnets for all our flying friends.
Stems also make good cut flowers for small vases.

Rabbit & deer resistant

Happily rabbits and deer dislike the taste, and usually leave this hardy groundcover alone.

Hardy evergreen perennial groundcover

Penstemon virens is a hardy, evergreen perennial groundcover.
Bearing a cloud of sky-blue flower stems 20cm.
Forms a 30cm wide diameter carpet of emerald green evergreen foliage.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: Penstemon virens

Sow indoors in punnets at any time of the year when suitable temperatures (18-21C) can be provided.

Sow indoors for quick & early plants: First sow the seeds in a punnet / pot, on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then pat the seed gently to the surface of the mix to ensure good contact.

Now dust the seeds very lightly with sieved mix / sand / grit.
But do not completely cover because these seeds need light to germinate.

Now moisten the punnet thoroughly by standing it in a shallow water bath.
And allow the moisture to percolate to the surface of the mix from below.

Then cling wrap the moist, sown punnet, or place in a clip-lock bag.
And place the punnet in the fridge for 4-6 weeks to mimic a good cold winter.

Then after 4-6 weeks remove from the fridge, unwrap, and place the punnet in a warm, well-lit position (not in any direct sun).
And continue to keep moist.

Temperatures of 18-21°C at this stage are best for rapid and optimum germination.

Seeds begin to germinate in 14-30 days approx.
But do not discard the punnet, as it is natural for this plant to stagger the seed germination as a safety precaution.

Tip for sowing fine seed: The seed of Penstemon virens is very fine. So to make it easier to get out of the bag, and to spread it more evenly – First seive some of the seed sowing mix.
Then place a few pinches of sieved mix into the bag with the seeds.
Then shake like mad to mix the seed into the fine mix.
It will now be easy to get the fine seed out of the bag, and distribute evenly.

Seed Count: 100 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

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