Penstemon Le Phare seeds - Penstemon Scarlet Queen

Penstemon hybrid 'Le Phare', also marketed as 'Scarlet Queen', is a summer-flowering perennial with brilliantly bicoloured flowers that are eye-catching in borders. Large light red flowers with white throats bloom from June to October, borne on a vigorous plant with blue-green foliage. Plants grown from seed form beautiful bushy clumps within months, ideal for enlivening sunny spots in the garden or large containers. It is easy to grow, its only drawback is its limited hardiness.

'Le Phare' is a hybrid Penstemon, belonging to the Plantaginaceae family (formerly Scrophulariaceae), resulting from cross-breeding between several North American species. This cultivar stands out for its particularly generous flowering, in the form of bright and light red, large campanulate bell-shaped flowers, accentuated by a white throat. These flowers, in loose terminal clusters, renew themselves continuously throughout the summer, from June to September. The plant has a bushy, dense habit, reaching 50 to 60 cm in height with a similar spread. The leaves are lanceolate, intense green with bluish reflections, semi-evergreen in winter in mild climates.
Although classified among perennials, Penstemon 'Le Phare' is often short-lived, particularly in regions with harsh winters and in poorly drained soils. Its hardiness is moderate, around -5 °C, sometimes down to -8 °C under optimal conditions. It is more advisable to grow it as a biennial.

Penstemon 'Le Phare' is a first-rate variety for colouring summer borders. Its flower spikes create a strong visual impact, ideal for enlivening edges and mixed borders. Its moderate stature allows it to be combined with intermediate-sized perennials such as blanket flowers, tickseeds or woodland sages, or to be placed between medium ornamental grasses for a contrasting effect full of movement. In containers, it enlivens balconies and terraces, paired with Nemesia 'Sunsatia Plus Little Vanilla', for example. Its slightly retro style pairs wonderfully with cottage or country gardens. Penstemons also make excellent cut flowers.