Marianne's Response

Penstemon

The main stem of two different pentsemons seem to be growing sidewise. I bought a distressed plant this morning hoping to save it – and it, too, is growing sidewise. Is this normal and I just haven’t noticed it before? Thank you for your help.

Posted by Barbara Angelo on June 18, 2019

Marianne's Response

Plants will grow sideways in an effort to reach more sunlight so often plants from a garden center growing in pots will stretch out toward the light. You can snip out the wayward growth and new sprouts will grow straight up only if your penstemon has the full sun location that this perennial craves. These are alpine plants so they also need good drainage. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti