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Blue Lips Penstemon

Penstemon x 'Blue Lips'

$11.19
$11.19 $13.99
per Plant - 2.5" Pot
Sale | Save 20%
ZONES  4-9 | Good to grow! Zone
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• ‘Blue Lips’ is a beautiful selection that blooms in spring with short spikes of blue-lipped, lavender throated flowers
• Shear off the faded flowers to reveal the wonderful blue-gray evergreen foliage
• Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric)
• A High Country Gardens introduction. 2009 Plant of the Year

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Blue Lips Penstemon

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Description

10" tall x 15-18" wide. Give your garden a kiss of blue with Penstemon 'Blue Lips'. Discovered by High Country Gardens chief horticulturist David Salman, this showy hybrid Beardtongue is a delight in the late spring garden with its profuse display of bright blue-lipped, lavender throated flowers. After its month-long flowering display, shear off the faded flower spikes to display the plant's attractive blue-gray mat of needle-like evergreen foliage. A cross between two superb wildflower species, Penstemon crandalii and Penstemon linariodes v. coloradensis, 'Blue Lips' a real gem in the Western garden being a showy, long-lived easy-to-grow hybrid wildflower. Plant it in a full sun site in infertile, well-drained soil. Very resistant to browsing rabbits. Cutting propagated. 2009 Plant of the Year. 

Learn more about this High Country Gardens introduction for 2009: 'Blue Lips' Penstemon: 2009 Plant Of The Year

Planting & Care

Tips for growing Penstemon (Beardtongue)

Penstemon are generally evergreen and have beautiful flowers that are very attractive to hummingbirds. Most varieties are rabbit resistant.

  1. They need “elbow room,” maximum sun, heat and don’t like to be crowded by other plants.
  2. Plant only in well-drained soils; clay soils and Penstemon are incompatible.
  3. Avoid overly enriched soils; too much compost and fertilizer will shorten their lifespan.
  4. They establish quickly and the amount and frequency of watering needs to be reduced after about 8 to 10 weeks to create dry conditions.
  5. When using drip irrigation, be sure to put the emitter off to the side of the plant, not right on top of the root ball to avoid overwatering the plant.
  6. Plant high, leaving the top of the rootball just above the surrounding soil to avoid burying the crown of the plant.
  7. Mulch with gravel or pine needles in arid climates. No mulch is needed where conditions are moister. Always avoid bark, grass clippings, or compost as mulch materials.
  8. Allow some of the plants to set seed (don't deadhead all of the flower spikes)*.
  9. Fertilize sparingly. One time each year in the fall is enough. Apply a light application of an organic or natural fertilizer such as Yum Yum Mix as a top dressing around the plants. Don't use high nitrogen water soluble fertilizer like Miracle Gro

*To keep penstemon that have finely textured or matted evergreen foliage looking their best, you'll want to 'deadhead" them. Shear off the fading flowering spikes just as the plant is going out of flower. Gently bunch the flower spikes together with one hand and cut them off at the point where they go down into the mat of foliage with your clipper in your other hand. Recommended for the following varieties: P. pinifolius types (‘Compactum', ‘Mersea Yellow', ‘Nearly Red', ‘Magdalena Sunshine' and ‘Tall Orange Mix'), as well as Penstemon linarioides v. coloradensis and Penstemon virens ('Blue Lips').

More in-depth guidance for growing Penstemon: Growing Penstemon,]David’s Favorite Plants: Pineleaf Beardtongue, The Beardtongue Family: Penstemania for Penstemon.

Shipping

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As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Some perennials are shipped as potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat.  The ‘Plant Information’ section describes how that item will ship. All perennials and fall-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.

Perennials and fall-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your Growing Zone. Perennial and fall-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service at (802) 227-7200 or contact us by email or chat.

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key features

Advantages
  • Bee Friendly
  • Native
  • Evergreen
  • Easy To Grow
  • Small Spaces
  • Rock Gardens
  • Deer Resistant
  • Rabbit Resistant
Light Requirements
  • Full Sun
Bloom Time
Late spring to early summer

Additional information

Planting Time
  • Spring / Summer
Soil Moisture
  • Waterwise
Water Tolerance
Low-Water
Soil Type
  • Low Fertility Soil
  • Well-Drained Soil
Mature Height
10" tall
Mature Spread
15-18" wide
Growing Zones
  • Zone 4
  • Zone 5
  • Zone 6
  • Zone 7
  • Zone 8
  • Zone 9
Ideal Region
  • Suitable Above 7000 ft
  • Pacific Northwest
  • Southwest
  • West
  • Western Only
Native To
North America
Awards
HCG Plant Of The Year
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