Catherine de la Mare Purple Beardtongue (Penstemon)

Penstemon 'Catherine de la Mare' is a spreading, woody-based, semi-evergreen perennial with bluish-green leaves and dense racemes of purplish-blue flowers on reddish stems. The Royal Horticultural Society lists it for full sun and describes summer flowering. ## Garden Use This selection can bring cool blue-purple color to a sunny mixed border, gravel garden, or informal planting. Its spreading habit works where a low, broad clump can soften the front or middle of a bed. The RHS lists broad maximum height and spread ranges of 0.1–0.5 m for this plant, so leave room for it to expand rather than treating it as a narrow upright spike. ## Growing Conditions Choose a well-drained site in full sun. The RHS profile lists chalk, loam, and sandy soils, and indicates that it can grow across acidic, neutral, or alkaline pH conditions when drainage is suitable. Its description notes semi-evergreen foliage and flowering in summer. See the [RHS profile for Penstemon 'Catherine de la Mare'](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/76333/penstemon-catherine-de-la-mare/details) for the plant's details and cultivation notes. ## Maintenance In colder areas, use a dry winter mulch to protect the crown. After flowering, shorten flowered stems by about half if you want to encourage further flowering, and cut winter-damaged stems back in spring. RHS also notes that cultivars do not come true from seed, so propagate this named selection by cuttings or division when maintaining its identity.