Penstemon 'Purple Riding Hood'

Penstemon 'Purple Riding Hood': A Fairy Tale Bloom

Penstemon 'Purple Riding Hood', a charming addition to the Beardtongue family, weaves a fairy tale narrative in the garden with its vibrant purple blooms standing tall against glossy, dark green foliage. This enchanting cultivar captures the imagination with its upright spikes of bell-shaped flowers, reminiscent of a storybook scene. Celebrated for its vivid color, prolonged flowering period, and resilience, 'Purple Riding Hood' adds a touch of whimsy and robust beauty to any outdoor space. Perfect for adding vertical interest to perennial borders, attracting pollinators to wildlife gardens, or creating a splash of color in cottage garden settings, this Penstemon variety is a true protagonist in the garden's unfolding story.

Product Characteristics:

• Height: 'Purple Riding Hood' achieves an elegant height of 60-75 cm, with flower spikes that rise gracefully above the foliage, lending a regal yet inviting presence.
• Spread: It boasts a moderate spread of 30-45 cm, forming neat clumps of foliage that accentuate the striking purple flowers, ensuring a dense and vibrant display.
• Flower Colour: The blooms are a rich, royal purple, each one a jewel against the backdrop of its glossy leaves, creating a visually stunning contrast that captivates and delights.
• Flowering Period: From early summer to early fall, 'Purple Riding Hood' adorns the garden with its fairy tale blooms, offering a generous season of color and charm.
• Sunlight Requirements: Preferring full sun to part shade, this Penstemon variety flourishes under the sun's rays, which enhance the depth and vibrancy of its purple flowers.
• Soil Requirements: Adaptable to a variety of soil types, 'Purple Riding Hood' favors well-drained conditions and is relatively drought-tolerant once established, showcasing its adaptability and ease of care.

Uses and Benefits: Beyond its enchanting beauty, Penstemon 'Purple Riding Hood' serves as a beacon for pollinators, drawing in bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds with its nectar-rich flowers. Its striking color and form make it an excellent choice for adding visual depth and ecological value to garden designs.

Companion Plants: Complement 'Purple Riding Hood' with the golden hues of Achillea 'Moonshine', the soft lavenders of Lavandula (Lavender), and the bright whites of Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy) for a garden tableau that sparkles with color contrast and textural diversity. This combination creates a harmonious blend that enhances the allure of each plant, setting a scene that is both vibrant and serene.

Care Instructions: Penstemon 'Purple Riding Hood' is a testament to both beauty and resilience, requiring minimal maintenance to thrive. It benefits from regular watering in its first growing season to establish a deep root system and appreciates mulching to retain soil moisture. Deadheading spent blooms encourages further flowering, extending its display of fairy tale charm.

History: 'Purple Riding Hood' is a cultivar celebrated for its ornamental appeal and garden performance, bred for its striking color, robust growth habit, and adaptability to various garden conditions. Its introduction brought a vibrant new character to the Penstemon family, inviting gardeners to create their own fairy tale landscapes.

Final Thoughts: Penstemon 'Purple Riding Hood' is not just a plant; it's a narrative of color, life, and imagination in the garden. Its ability to attract a host of pollinators, combined with its captivating beauty and ease of care, makes it a cherished addition to any garden seeking to add a splash of storybook magic. Whether nestled among cottage garden flowers, standing tall in perennial borders, or enhancing wildlife habitats, 'Purple Riding Hood' invites onlookers into a world where garden fantasies bloom into reality, offering a vibrant spectacle of nature's enchantment.