Sowing perennial Penstemons....

18 years ago

I had a few Penstemon Mystica seeds that I got from Parks... I ended up sowing three containers - not that many seeds per container - and ended up with three nice large mounds.

I planted them in my holding bed last spring and now since it is fall, I have moved them into a spot in my garden, ready to bloom this spring.

Here's my question: Can I divide the mounds or should I just leave them? Has anyone had experience sowing Penstemons and would I be better off with the "hunk of seedlings" rather than three smaller plants? My thinking is that maybe if I could divide them now, it would be easier than if I wait until next year and they have multiplied on their own. Plus, it would give me more blooms in other areas if I had more plants...

Thanks

Carrie

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Comments (7)

trudi_d
18 years ago
hi Carrie,

I love Pnetemons ;-) You can divide the clumps and replant now, you've got several more weeks before the ground freezes--the pentsemon clumps will have plenty of time to develop new roots. Some penstemons may be semi-evergreen through winter too :-)
carrie630
Original Author
18 years ago
My Penstemon Red Huskers are evergreen all winter and the Mysticas were a gorgeous mix of green/purply foliage all last winter in my holding bed. I did NOT like the E'spirit and will never do those again.

I have always loved my Red Huskers (store bought years ago), and I bet the Mysticas will be just as pretty ... (at least according to the picture)...

Thanks - I'll divide them

Carrie
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mnwsgal
18 years ago
I have started several different varieties of pensetmons and planted them in my holding beds. Some have been first year bloomers and nice the second year also.

Carrie, those Mystica look really nice. Hmm, Parks, you say.

Red Huskers is a great pensetmon. Do you leave the foliage or cut back after first bloom? I cut back for a second bloom but saw one that hadn't been cut back and the foliage was a beautiful red in the fall. Plant also got very large. A very nice accent.

Looking forward to lots of blooms next year on second and third year plants.
carrie630
Original Author
18 years ago
Yes, Parks last year, but so far I have not seen them online.

The Red Huskers never bloom twice for me, but I love the foliage all year round - they are my favorites - so far - I haven't seen the Mystica bloom yet.

Carrie
bakemom_gw
18 years ago
You have not wintersown penstemmon HR? Wow - that's a fun experience missed. It really winter sows nicely - perhaps not 100% but pretty good. The seedlings are very hardy and make nice gifts. They do wonderful on plantout. Seeds smell like college kid feet and tend to mature very late, but otherwise - go for it.
carrie630
Original Author
18 years ago
No, I never ws'd Pen. HR - but I tried to get seeds from them and it sure was hard (they were hard!)... I kept a few on a paper plate for weeks all summer and they still were hard as a rock. So, what did I do? I took a NUTCRACKER and opened them and i think.. I think... I have some seeds. Can't wait to see if they germinate.

Carrie
tiffy_z5_6_can
18 years ago
Carrie,

That Mystica is really nice. I'll have to watch for seeds from it.

Never had Penstemons until I started winter swoing. Last year I winter sowed a bunch sent in a trade and this past year they flowered twice. They were short and oh so pretty. :O)