Pep Talk Purple Hartweg's Beardtongue

Pep Talk Purple Hartweg's Beardtongue (Penstemon hartwegii 'Pep Talk Purple') is a bushy, upright perennial with large, vibrant blue-purple flowers and bright white centres from summer into autumn. It grows to about 70cm tall and 50 to 70cm wide. It is the cool, strong colour of the Pep Talk series, and one of the easiest ways to add a punch of purple to a sunny border.

Why you'll love it

• Strong blue-purple colour. The large flowers are rich and vivid, with a white throat that makes each bloom stand out.
• Bushier than older penstemons. The Pep Talk series branches densely, so you get a full plant rather than a few lanky stems.
• Feeds pollinators. Bees and butterflies are drawn to the nectar in the tubular flowers, from summer into autumn.
• Cold tolerant. It handles frost and cold winters, and its parent species holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
• Fast and forgiving. It grows quickly with regular water and responds well to a tidy up of spent stems.

Where it works best

Colour in mixed beds. Plant 50cm apart in a drift. Blue-purple works well against yellow, orange or silver foliage, and the narrow leaves stay out of the way of neighbouring plants.

Cottage and pollinator gardens. It sits well among roses, salvias and grasses, and gives bees a dependable nectar source in late summer.

Large pots. A deep pot of free draining mix on a sunny patio keeps the plant compact and the colour close by.

Growing Pep Talk Purple Hartweg's Beardtongue in Australia

Position and climate. Choose a spot with sun or light shade. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean climates. The plant tolerates frost, but in very cold regions a sheltered spot or a wall helps. Leaves hang on through mild winters and fall in colder places.

Soil. Use a light soil with fast drainage, either acid or alkaline. Soggy ground causes root problems, so add coarse material or build a mound on clay.

Water and feed. Mulch after planting and water regularly through the first 12 weeks. Once the spring cut back is done, feed with slow release fertiliser and use seaweed in the summer heat.

Pruning. Deadhead through the season for a second flush. Each mid spring, cut hard back to the lowest shoots, since flowers appear on new growth.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Pep Talk Purple Hartweg's Beardtongue as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Expect a young plant that is still bulking up, with flowers following once the weather warms. Plant it out soon after delivery, water it in and mulch around the base.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Perennial plants for a cottage garden
• Plants that feed bees and butterflies
• More plants for pots
• Frost hardy plants for cold gardens

Common questions

What does it look like when it is not in flower?

A bushy clump of slender green leaves. In mild climates it keeps its foliage over winter, and in colder ones the leaves drop until spring growth begins.

When is the best time to prune it?

Mid spring, when you cut back to the low shoots. It flowers on new growth, so this timing does not cost you any blooms.

Can I grow it with other perennials?

Yes. It pairs well with grasses, salvias and silver leaved plants that share its liking for sun and free draining soil.