Foxglove Penstemon 'Mystica' (Penstemon digitalis) seeds
- The Foxglove Penstemon is a perennial shrub from North America. From July, the pale lilac, nearly white blossoms open up and please the eye for approx. 4 weeks.
- Contents: Approx. 180 seeds.
- Open-pollinated variety, seed tested regularly
Regular price:
€2.99
Product number: PEN02 GTIN: 4251420518019
Description
The Foxglove Penstemon is a perennial shrub from North America. It's the only member of the Penstemon species which survives winter relatively stable and can be described as hardy. The shrub needs a couple of years to develop its full splendour but then, it's a wonderful, lush decorative plant in the shrub bed. From July, the pale lilac, nearly white blossoms open up and please the eye for approx. 4 weeks. The blossoms stand in panicles and, as a food source, attract many useful insects.
However, not only the blossoms are an adornment: Also to be highlighted is the strikingly coloured foliage of the shrub. The long, lance-shaped leaves impress with a beautiful, reddish, slightly bronze colour shade, which can change to a bright red in autumn. Equally decorative appear the seed pods. The inflorescences as well as the seed pods are well-suitable as cut flowers for the vase.
The variety 'Mystica' is well-suited for solitary placement or group planting in near-natural gardens, prairie gardens, or simply in herbaceous borders. Good neighbours are roses, catnip, phlox, baby's breath, coneflower, or also herb Robert.
The indigenous peoples of North America also know the foxglove penstemon as a medicinal plant, which was primarily used against tooth aches.
However, not only the blossoms are an adornment: Also to be highlighted is the strikingly coloured foliage of the shrub. The long, lance-shaped leaves impress with a beautiful, reddish, slightly bronze colour shade, which can change to a bright red in autumn. Equally decorative appear the seed pods. The inflorescences as well as the seed pods are well-suitable as cut flowers for the vase.
The variety 'Mystica' is well-suited for solitary placement or group planting in near-natural gardens, prairie gardens, or simply in herbaceous borders. Good neighbours are roses, catnip, phlox, baby's breath, coneflower, or also herb Robert.
The indigenous peoples of North America also know the foxglove penstemon as a medicinal plant, which was primarily used against tooth aches.
Plant profile
| Plant type | Herbaceous plant, Wildflower |
|---|---|
| Use | Cut flower, Good insect food plant, Medicinal plant, Ornamental plant |
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Species | Scrophulariaceae |
| Seed propagation | Conventional production |
| Region of origin | Central America, North America, USA |
| Characteristics | Food for bees, Needs cold to germinate, Very resistant to slugs and snails |
| Eventual height | 40-80 cm |
| Flower colour | Lilac, White |
| Flowering months | August, July |
| Root system | Rhizome |
| Winter hardiness zones | 6 (-23 bis -18 °C) |
Growing instructions
| When to sow outdoors | February, January, October, September |
|---|---|
| Sowing depth | 0.5 cm |
| Germination temperature | 3-5°C |
| Climate | Temperate |
| Soil type | Free-draining, Humus-rich, Nutrient-rich, Sandy |
| Sunlight | Full sun, Shade |
| Water requirement | Medium |
| Planting distance | 40 cm |
| Good companion plants | Baby's Breath, Bellflower, Button Snakewort, Catnip, Knautia, Phlox, Rose |
Sowing and care
Perennial shrub. Cold germination: Direct sowing outdoors possible in autumn or early spring or preculture from February. The seeds need a considerable cold period before they germinate.
Herefore, the seeds are mixed with slightly moist sowing substrate (coconut soil is especially suitable) and wrapped in plastic bags. As the plastic bags are waterproof, re-moisturizing usually isn't necessary. In the following, the filled bags are put into an approx. 20°C warm location for 2-4 weeks. Then, the bags go into the fridge. Herefore, the fridge has to be set as cold as possible: 5°C or slightly less is ideal. The seeds should be checked regularly (once per week) and, as soon as germination begins, sown in pots as usual. Many seeds germinate after 1-2 months of cold.
Herefore, the seeds are mixed with slightly moist sowing substrate (coconut soil is especially suitable) and wrapped in plastic bags. As the plastic bags are waterproof, re-moisturizing usually isn't necessary. In the following, the filled bags are put into an approx. 20°C warm location for 2-4 weeks. Then, the bags go into the fridge. Herefore, the fridge has to be set as cold as possible: 5°C or slightly less is ideal. The seeds should be checked regularly (once per week) and, as soon as germination begins, sown in pots as usual. Many seeds germinate after 1-2 months of cold.
Other names
Botanical name: Penstemon digitalis
German: Fingerhutförmiger Bartfaden, Garten-Bartfaden, Bronze-Bartfaden
English: Penstemon, Foxglove penstemon, Smooth penstemon, Beard tongue
Dutch: Slangenkop, Schildpadbloem
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