Hollinshead Water-wise Garden Plants

Back to Search

Photo:

'Rock Candy' Purple Penstemon

Latin Name:

Penstemon barbatus 'Novapenpin'

A tidy, compact clump of green foliage topped by upright spikes full of deep purple, bell-shaped flowers

Taxon ID#

63 MAINTENANCE

Maintenance Level:

Low

Min. USDA Hardiness Zone:

6 Sun Preference:

Full Sun

Water Preference:

L

Soil Preference:

Fertilizer Needs:

Recommended Mulch:

Family:

Scrophulariaceae

Origins:

Plant Type:

Herbaceous Plant, Perennial

Penstemon barbatus 'Novapenpin' Plant Patent #26701

Oregon native:

no

Western state native:

no

PLANT DESCRIPTION

Foliage Color:

Green

Foliage Description:

A tidy, compact clump of green lance-like leaves.

Fragrant:

no

Predominant flower color:

Purple

Flower Description:

Deep purple, bell-shaped flowers

Fall color:

no

Fall Color Description:

Winter Foliage:

Deciduous

Winter Interest:

no

Winter Interest Description:

Mature height:

12-18"

Mature spread:

12-18"

Growth rate:

Medium

LANDSCAPE APPLICATION

Deer Resistant:

no

Fire Resistant:

yes

Attracts Pollinators:

yes

Attracts Butterflies:

yes

Native Habitat:

Attracts Birds:

yes

Cut/Dried Flowers:

yes

Photo:

Used by Wildlife:

no

Hedge/Screen:

no

Swales:

no

Wildlife Use:

Border:

yes

Erosion Control:

no

Windbreak:

no

Cover Structures:

no

Ground Cover:

no

Provides Shade:

no

Rock Garden:

yes

Adds Texture/Movement:

no

First Bloom:

Jun

Last Bloom:

Jul

Ornamental Accent:

yes

Garden Observations:

SEASONAL CARE

Spring Care:

Blooms heavily in late spring, reblooming in late summer if lightly trimmed after the first flush.

Summer Care:

Remove spent flowering racemes to prolong bloom. Plants may be cut back to basal foliage after flowering to improve appearance of the planting.

Fall Care:

Winter Care:

Leave some stems for frost protection and mulch with straw in winter, if necessary.

Long Term Care:

Insect Pests:

Wildlife Pests:

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)

Environmental Problems:

Landscape Problems:

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.

Hollinshead Water-wise Garden Plants

Photo:

​

'Rock Candy' Purple Penstemon

​

​

Latin Name:

Taxon ID#

63

MAINTENANCE

Low

Min. USDA Hardiness Zone:

6

Sun Preference:

Full Sun

Water Preference:

L

Soil Preference:

​

Fertilizer Needs:

​

Recommended Mulch:

​

Family:

Origins:

Plant Type:

Herbaceous Plant, Perennial

Penstemon barbatus 'Novapenpin' Plant Patent #26701

Oregon native:

no

Western state native:

no

PLANT DESCRIPTION

Foliage Color:

Green

Foliage Description:

A tidy, compact clump of green lance-like leaves.

Fragrant:

no

Predominant flower color:

Purple

Flower Description:

Deep purple, bell-shaped flowers

Fall color:

no

Fall Color Description:

​

Winter Foliage:

Deciduous

Winter Interest:

no

Winter Interest Description:

​

Mature height:

12-18"

Mature spread:

12-18"

Growth rate:

Medium

LANDSCAPE APPLICATION

Deer Resistant:

no

Fire Resistant:

yes

Attracts Pollinators:

yes

Attracts Butterflies:

yes

Native Habitat:

​

Attracts Birds:

yes

Cut/Dried Flowers:

yes

Photo:

​

Used by Wildlife:

no

Hedge/Screen:

no