Plant Type

Perennial, Annual

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

Pink

 

Flower Season

Summer, Fall

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Low, Medium

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Summer

 

Location Uses

Perennial Border, Patio, Raised Planter

 

Special Uses

Container, Cut Flowers

 

Attracts Wildlife

Hummingbirds, Butterflies

Apple Blossom penstemon has soft to bright pink tubular flowers with white throats. Flowers form along tall spike early summer until frost. It is drought tolerant. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies; is deer and rabbit resistant. The penstemon hybrids are generally not as cold hardy as other penstemons, (listed as Zone 7, though some sources list it as 5) but they make fine annuals for filling in a perennial border or for containers. Grows 2 to 3 feet tall and about 12 to 15 inches wide.

Hybrid penstemon can be less cold-hardy than other penstemons. They make great annuals for containers and filler in perennial borders as they have a long bloom season. Grow in full sun and well-drained soil. Like other penstemon, they prefer a gravel mulch, but if you use bark, pull it back from the crown of the plant so as to not cause crown rot.