Penstemon ’Sour Grapes’
£7.00
Out of stock
Penstemon ‘Sour Grapes’
A distinctive penstemon with unusual smoky mauve flowers that bring soft colour and long-lasting interest to summer borders.
Elegant stems carry clusters of tubular flowers in a muted mauve-purple shade with pale throats, creating a slightly vintage, smoky look in the border. The flowers appear continuously from early summer well into autumn and are highly attractive to bees. The colour works beautifully with silvery foliage and soft pastel planting schemes, adding depth without overpowering nearby plants.
Penstemon ‘Sour Grapes’ thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, forming a bushy clump that flowers reliably for months. Like many penstemons it performs best in warm, sunny borders or gravel gardens where the soil drains freely. In mild coastal areas it often behaves like a small sub-shrub, producing increasingly impressive displays each year.
Specifications
Plant type: Hardy perennial
Flower colour: Smoky mauve-purple with pale throat
Flowering period: June to October
Height: approx. 70–90 cm
Spread: approx. 40–50 cm
Position: Full sun
Soil: Free-draining soil
Hardiness: Hardy in most UK gardens with good drainage
Pollinator friendly: Yes, attractive to bees
🌿 Note for Isle of Wight planting
Penstemons suit the Isle of Wight’s mild, coastal conditions very well. Plant in a sunny, sheltered border with good drainage and they will often flower for months, coping well with the island’s lighter soils and sea breezes.
🌿 Ideal Companion Plants from The Green Standard Range
Salvia ‘Nachtvlinder’, deep violet flower spikes that add contrast and extend the flowering season
Achillea ‘Lilac Beauty’, flat lilac flower heads that echo the soft tones and attract pollinators
Nepeta ‘Blue Wonder’, low clouds of blue flowers that soften the base of the planting
Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’, upright ornamental grass that gives height and movement behind the flowers
🌟 The Green Standard Tip
Regular deadheading keeps penstemons flowering for much longer. Leave the woody stems through winter, then cut back in spring once new shoots appear.