Fothergill's Penstemon Scarlet Queen Seeds

Details:

• Botanical Name: Penstemon hartwegii, a vigorous, high-performing perennial prized for its architectural flower spikes.
• Stunning Scarlet Appearance: Features large, tubular, bell-like flowers of a rich, velvety scarlet-red, beautifully contrasted by clean white throats that instantly draw the eye.
• First-Year Flowering: Exceptionally quick to establish; when sown early in the season, these hardworking plants will flower in year one (treat as a half-hardy annual in particularly cold, exposed regions).
• Stately Border Profile: Grows with a neat, upright, and bushy habit to a height of 75cm (30in), making it the perfect mid-to-back-of-border anchor for cottage gardens and contemporary beds.
• Perfect for Fresh Cutting: The robust, rigid stems and long-lasting floral spikes hold up beautifully in water, making this a top-tier choice for creating dramatic, home-grown vase arrangements.
• Pollinator Hotspot: The nectar-rich, open trumpets are a magnet for native wildlife, being highly attractive to bumblebees, honeybees, and colorful summer butterflies.
• Sun-Loving Native: Performs at its absolute best when positioned in full sun, demonstrating excellent resilience and an incredibly long flowering window that lasts from summer right into autumn.

Care Instructions:

• Sow seeds indoors from mid-winter to early spring on the surface of a moist, free-draining seed compost; press them gently into the medium but do not cover, as the seeds require light to germinate.
• Maintain a warm, bright environment for germination, then prick out the young seedlings into individual pots to grow on in frost-free conditions.
• Gradually acclimatise the plants to outdoor conditions before transplanting them to their final positions in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun after the last winter frosts.