Penstemon Raven Query

Nollie

My new little penstemon raven plants seem to be leafing up only on the 10cm woody stems they arrived with, no new growth from the base. One or two not showing any signs of new growth yet at all. Is this normal for this and maybe all penstemons? 

Does this affect how far you should cut them back when the time comes? Basically, do I leave a good length of stem on for following year’s growth?

Thanks!

Hostafan1

could you supply a photo?

Nollie

Here they are Hosta, penstemons new to me so not sure what they should look like!

Lyn

I would just leave those In the pots for a bit longer. 
They don’t bloom on last year’s growth so no need to leave anything on.
once they’re planted out just leave them, then you prune down to the ground next March to April. Probably earlier for you, prune when you see new growth coming up from the base. 
You can cut the stick bits off those, the bits that haven’t got any shoots on, that’s last year’s growth. 

Nollie

Hi @Lyn, thanks, what you say makes perfect sense and what I would expect, but I confess I am still a bit baffled by these particular plants as all the new growth is shooting from the dead-looking stick bits, i.e. last year’s growth. If I cut the stick bits off I cut off all the new growth.

I’m happy to wait and see if they shoot from the base, no rush, I have only recently potted them on from 9cm to 14cm pots. I just find it a bit curious...

Hostafan1

I'm with Lyn, leave them be a while longer. Those with nothing on them might well produce growth from just below soil level.

Nollie

Thanks @Hostafan1, as I say, no rush, haven’t even dug the bed they are to go in yet! It was just unexpected to see the new growth (so far) only on old woody stems, I didn’t know they did that.

Lizzie27

I cut down my 'Raven' nearly to the base a few weeks ago and am now wondering whether this particular strain doesn't like it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Nollie

Interestingly, I found an article by Val Bourne on how to grow P. Raven, she says ‘leave foliage intact until April then cut back to the lowest buds’, which to me indicates that you need to leave some old stems intact for buds to form on, which certainly chimes with how my little ones arrived from the nursery. She also says it flowers for so long it often flowers itself to death so take cuttings...

On the other hand, the RHS says cut Raven back to the ground in April, so hopefully yours will be ok, @Lizzie27. 

Lizzie27

Thanks @Nollie

Hostafan1

I took cuttings of mine today. Maybe a wee bit late, but worth a punt, as they say.