Penstemon Harlequin Magenta - Beardtongue

The Penstemon 'Harlequin Magenta' is a beautiful hybrid variety of penstemon with a dense habit. The plant produces upright spikes of countless purple-violet flowers throughout the summer, surmounting a compact clump of narrow leaves. With rapid growth, this penstemon with refined charm will enhance your sunny borders in cool and rich soil and can tolerate episodes of drought. While it is much more resistant and hardy than other varieties, it will need well-drained soil to get through the winter without any problems.

The Harlequin Magenta penstemon belongs to the botanical family Plantaginaceae, which was reorganized a few years ago to include most of the plants previously in the Scrophulariaceae family. It includes garden classics like foxgloves and veronicas. Penstemons are perennials native to American meadows. Many are distinguished by their tall habit, rapid growth, and the profusion of often highly coloured flowers that they can produce for several months until the frost.

The 'Harlequin Magenta' variety forms a dense and compact clump, with lanceolate leaves tapering to a point, semi-evergreen. The well-upright spikes emerge between June and October and are adorned with leaves on their lower half. They bear a profusion of beautiful purple-violet flowers, saturated and invigorating, on their upper half. Their tubular shape is reminiscent of the flowers of purple foxgloves, except that the tip of the tube clearly distinguishes 3 large rounded teeth at the bottom and 2 at the top. The shrub will reach about 55 cm (22in) in height with flowers and 40 cm (16in) in width.

The Penstemon Harlequin Magenta is a robust variety that tolerates humidity and heat better than many others. It will thrive in any cool and light soil, even quite poor, as long as the drainage is perfect. Humidity during winter is indeed the main cause of penstemons' decline in our gardens. Once well-established, 'Harlequin Magenta' can endure periods of drought. However, the lifespan of the plants remains relatively short, and it is advisable to divide the clump every 2 to 4 years to preserve the variety. 

This variety will work wonders in all slightly wild sunny borders or even in not-too-dry rock gardens, where its rustic and refined charm will accompany other plants such as columbines, 'Purrsian Blue' catmint, 'American Revolution' daylily, or even quaking grass (Briza media), a beautiful grass with graceful swaying spikes in the wind. It also performs well in containers.