Hybrids

photos by Louise Parsons

Shown growing in my Corvallis, Oregon garden. According to author Peter James this cultivar is part of a group of misnamed and older penstemon hybrids. I grew this from seed. The taller "border penstemon" tolerate rich soil and some summer water. While they do require good drainage and ample sun, they thrive in our cool maritime mediterranean
climate.

The beautiful "stripes" found running down into the throats and tubes of some penstemons are believed to guide bees for pollination. Hummingbirds feed regularly on almost all of the penstemon here in western Oregon. Rufous are the most common but Annas and Black-chinned are seen regularly.