Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Penstemon 'Midnight' (Penstemon 'Midnight')
Comment on a listing
Plant supplier links
- Login to upload a photo
1 hour care
per year
per year
0.9m
Max height
Max height
0.45m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Penstemon 'Midnight'
Other names
Penstemon 'Midnight', Beardtongue 'Midnight', Penstemon 'Midnight Blue', Penstemon 'Russian River'
Genus
Penstemon Penstemon
Variety or Cultivar
'Midnight' _ 'Midnight' is a clump-forming, semi-evergreen perennial with linear to lance-shaped, dark green leaves and, from summer into autumn, upright racemes of tubular to bell-shaped, dark purple-blue flowers, often with pink-flushed throats.
Penstemon 'Midnight' is: Semi evergreen
Habit
Bushy, Clump-forming, Upright
Flower
Dark-purple, Dark-blue in Summer; Dark-purple, Dark-blue in Autumn
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Eelworms (leaf and bud) , Slugs , Snails Eelworms (leaf and bud) , Slugs , Snails
Downy mildew Downy mildew
General care
Pruning
Deadhead after flowering to maintain vigour. In autumn, cut back by 2/3 of plant height to prevent wind damage, leaving 1/3 to protect the crown from frost. Remove all old stems at the base in mid- to late spring once new shoots emerge at ground level.
Propagation methods
Division, Semi-hardwood cuttings, Softwood cuttings
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Penstemon 'Midnight' (Penstemon 'Midnight') will reach a height of 0.9m and a spread of 0.45m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), City, Cottage/Informal
Cultivation
Plant in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun with shelter from cold, drying winds and frost. Tolerates light shade. Protect with a dry winter mulch.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Penstemon 'Midnight'
Other names
Penstemon 'Midnight', Beardtongue 'Midnight', Penstemon 'Midnight Blue', Penstemon 'Russian River'
Genus
Penstemon Penstemon
Variety or Cultivar
'Midnight' _ 'Midnight' is a clump-forming, semi-evergreen perennial with linear to lance-shaped, dark green leaves and, from summer into autumn, upright racemes of tubular to bell-shaped, dark purple-blue flowers, often with pink-flushed throats.
Native to
Garden origin
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Bushy, Clump-forming, Upright
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Dark-purple, Dark-blue in Summer; Dark-purple, Dark-blue in Autumn
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Eelworms (leaf and bud) , Slugs , Snails
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
Deadhead after flowering to maintain vigour. In autumn, cut back by 2/3 of plant height to prevent wind damage, leaving 1/3 to protect the crown from frost. Remove all old stems at the base in mid- to late spring once new shoots emerge at ground level.
Propagation methods
Division, Semi-hardwood cuttings, Softwood cuttings
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Penstemon 'Midnight' (Penstemon 'Midnight') will reach a height of 0.9m and a spread of 0.45m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), City, Cottage/Informal
Cultivation
Plant in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun with shelter from cold, drying winds and frost. Tolerates light shade. Protect with a dry winter mulch.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login