Penstemon barbatus Twizzle Scarlet - seeds

Penstemon barbatus 'Twizzle Scarlet' is a remarkable selection of bearded penstemon, known for its long and sturdy flower stems, fast growth, and generous summer flowering in vibrant red. For three months, its tall stems emerge from the borders, adorned with graceful, eye-catching bells. This hardy perennial penstemon is drought-tolerant and thrives in fairly fertile, well-drained soils, basking in the sun.

Penstemon barbatus 'Twizzle Scarlet' is part of a series of recent hybrid penstemons, the 'Twizzle' series, created by Van Hemert & Co in the Netherlands, and awarded by Fleuroselect for their performance. These perennial plants are capable of flowering in their first year, producing taller flower stems than usual varieties while retaining the natural elegance of the botanic species Penstemon barbatus. The plants are upright and offer high-quality flowering from July to September. This series consists of several cultivars with various colours: Twizzle Coral, Twizzle Purple, Twizzle Scarlet, Twizzle White, and Twizzle Blue.

Penstemon barbatus 'Twizzle Scarlet' is a herbaceous perennial from the Plantaginaceae or Scrophulariaceae family, depending on the classification. It forms a semi-evergreen basal clump in winter, composed of fine, linear, bluish-green foliage, from which thick and sturdy flower stems emerge in July, reaching a height of 80 cm (32in). The 2.5 cm (1in) long, vibrant red, tubular bell-shaped flowers are distributed along the upper part of the stem, spanning 30 cm (12in). This plant has a deep root system, which can make transplantation challenging but allows it to find some moisture at depth.

Penstemon barbatus 'Twizzle Scarlet' is best planted in sunny, well-drained borders, alongside bushy salvias, toadflaxes, and grasses such as Stipa tenuifolia or Muhlenbergia capillaris. It is a cheerful, nectar-rich plant with a wild charm, which will accompany annual poppies, small blue aster stars, and Damask nigellas. It is also beautiful for containers and cut flowers.