Strobilanthes penstemonoides

Strobilanthes penstemonoides is an exotic-looking, easy and generous perennial, grown for its beautiful tubular flowers in late summer.

Strobilanthes is originally from China and forms superb bushes (1m (3ft) tall) with oval, finely toothed, bright green leaves. Towards the end of the season, it is spectacularly covered with blue-purple flowers, as large as hybrid penstemons.

Strobilanthes penstemonoides is easy to grow and thrives in partial shade, in any rich and moist soil, also tolerating dry shade well. It is hardy down to -12C (10,4°F) and likes a warm and sheltered position. Its deciduous foliage disappears in winter and reappears quite late in the season, with the first buds often not appearing until May.

Plant Strobilanthes penstemonoides on the edge of a woodland or in the back of an autumn border, alongside hostas, rodgersias, thalictrum, or kirengeshoma.

This perennial is often wrongly named Strobilanthes rankanensis (a small creeping plant native to Japan).