Penstemons are a beautiful addition to any garden with their showy flowers and attractive foliage. One question that often arises is whether penstemons reseed themselves. The answer is yes, some penstemon species and hybrids have the ability to reseed.
When it comes to penstemons, there are different types that have varying reseeding habits. The large-flowered hybrids and bedding types are generally easy to care for and require minimal maintenance. For these varieties, dead-heading is usually sufficient to keep the plants looking their best. Dead-heading simply means removing the spent flowers from the plant. This not only keeps the plant looking tidy, but it also encourages more blooms to form.
If you want more of these large-flowered hybrids or bedding types in your garden, you can actually let some of the lower seed capsules dry on the plant. Once the capsules have dried and turned brown, you can collect the seeds and reseed them in the desired planting beds. This is a great way to propagate these penstemons and ensure that you have a continuous display of their beautiful flowers.
However, it’s important to note that not all penstemons have the same reseeding habits. Some penstemon species and hybrids may need a little more attention after blooming. These varieties may benefit from having their stems cut back to the basal foliage. This helps to keep the plants compact and encourages new growth for the following season.
In my own experience, I have had penstemons reseed themselves in my garden. I have a beautiful variety called Penstemon ‘Husker Red’ which has lovely dark red flowers. After the initial bloom, I let some of the seed capsules dry on the plant and collected the seeds. I scattered the seeds in other areas of my garden, and the following year, I had new penstemon plants popping up in those areas. It was a delightful surprise to see these new plants thriving and adding even more color to my garden.
Penstemons do have the ability to reseed themselves, especially the large-flowered hybrids and bedding types. By dead-heading the spent flowers, you can encourage more blooms and keep the plants looking their best. If you want to propagate these penstemons, you can leave some seed capsules to dry and collect the seeds to reseed in other planting beds. However, it’s important to note that not all penstemons have the same reseeding habits, and some may benefit from having their stems cut back after blooming. penstemons are a versatile and rewarding plant to have in the garden.
