Penstemon barbatus 'Novapenpin'
Common Name(s):
Rock Candy Purple Penstemon
Rock Candy Pink
Synonym:
Bearded Penstemon
Flower:
Purple
Blooms :
Jun
to:
Jul
Deep purple, bell-shaped flowers
Botanical Description
Fragrant?
NO
Family:
Scrophulariaceae
Herbaceous Plant, Perennial
Foliage:
Green
A tidy, compact clump of green lance-like leaves.
Fall Color?
YES
Maintains its' lush bright green foliage throughout the growing seasson
Deciduous
Photo by:
Heading 6
Semi-evergreen basal rosette of bright lance-shaped green leaves
Oregon Native?
NO
West State Native?
NO
Origins:
Penstemon barbatus 'Novapenpin' Plant Patent #26701
Site Selection
Minimum USDA Hardiness Zone:
6
Water Needs:
L
Sun Needs:
Full Sun
Deer Resistant?
YES
Firewise?
YES
Height:
12-18"
Spread:
12-18"
Growth Rate:
Medium
Native Habitat:
Cultivar so has no native habitat
Soil:
Infertile well-drained gritty or sandy soil
Care Recommendations
Maintenance Level:
Low
Fertilizer:
Fertilize once a year in the spring with a low-nitrogen granular feed
Mulch:
Gravel, crushed rock, decomposed granite
Requires lean well-drained sandy or gravelly soil, full sun, trim spent flowers, water only when top inch of soil is dry, fertilize once a year in spring
Long Term:
Winter:
Leave some stems for frost protection and mulch with straw in winter, if necessary.
Spring:
Cut back winter-worn stems, fertilize, ensure soil is well-drained
Summer:
Remove spent flowering racemes to prolong bloom. Plants may be cut back to basal foliage after flowering to improve appearance of the planting.
Fall:
Do not prune, taper watering, fertilize if not done in spring, mulch
General Care Comments:
Heat and drought tolerant. Penstemon are low maintenance. The main requirement for success is that they need to be planted in well-drained soil-they do not like to have wet feet or crowns. They do best in lean soil without any additional amendments.
Common Problems
Water-logged soils, Penstemon species establish and spread slowly via seed distribution. They are not considered "weedy" or invasive species, but can spread into adjoining vegetative communities under ideal climatic and environmental conditions.
Diseases:
The OSU Plant Clinic has found Phytophthora spp., Rhizoctonia spp., and Fusarium spp. associated with root rots of Penstemon spp. grown in Oregon. (https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-and-disease-descriptions?title=Penstemon-Root+Rot)
Insects:
Aphids, Kuschelina flea beetles
Environmental Problems:
Excess moisture, heavy soils
Pests:
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