Penstemon Rubicundus - Beardtongue

The 'Rubicundus' Hybrid Penstemon is a variety of beardtongue with huge scarlet-red flowers with pure white throats on a plant of beautiful stature. A flowering that unleashes all its power under the brutal summer sun, capturing light and guiding the gaze, marking the garden at random in the flower beds. It unfolds on a bushy plant with beautiful dark green foliage. This magnificent perennial is undoubtedly not the hardiest, but it adapts to well-drained garden soil. It is also an excellent cut flower, perfect in sunny flower beds or large containers.

The 'Rubicundus' penstemon (synonym 'Heythrop Park') is a bushy perennial plant with a woody base from the family of Figworts, just like foxgloves and snapdragons. Like many hybrid penstemons, it results from cross-breeding several species, mainly native to Central and North America. This variety forms beautiful clumps with dark stems and dark green lanceolate foliage. Its growth is relatively fast. The flowering occurs from July to September, developing on the upper part of leafy stems that reach 80 cm (32in) in height (sometimes up to 1 m (3ft) under optimal conditions). The bicoloured flowers, 5 cm (2in) in diameter, in the shape of campanulate bells, are gathered in slightly loose clusters. They display a scarlet-red colour around an immaculate white throat. The vegetation persists more or less in winter, depending on the climate.

The 'Rubicundus' penstemon is used in flower beds, among perennials such as agapanthus, bluebeards, and agastaches, with small grasses such as Stipa mixed with annuals such as love-in-a-mist for example. It will also blend with white and red roses, fennels and wallflowers in warm tones. It also performs well in a large pot, with proper drainage and regular fertilization. Penstemons also make perfect-cut flowers.