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Each white trumpet-shaped flower flares out at the base where it's lobed edges are coloured a vibrant lipstick pink. This creates a distictive two-tone effect. The flowers form in loose clusters on upright stems, which open from the base upwards over a long period from midsummer. A prolific flowerer, it is hardier than many other penstemons and is even said to be resistant to slug damage. The pretty colouring of the flowers means it blends easily with many other shades, but it looks particularly good with deeper pinks, lilac and purple.

• Garden care: Remove the faded blooms regularly to prolong flowering. Apply a dry mulch around the base of the plant to protect the roots from frost damage in autumn. Leave the old foliage to protect the new shoots from frost and then cut it back by a third in spring.