Penstemons first came onto my radar about 25 years ago. Previously I had never been very interested, and considered them rather mundane plants. But then I was given a Penstemon ‘Osprey’.
Not realising its potential, I popped it in a gap in the border and more or less forgot about it. That summer, when it was in full flower - white with beautiful pink lobes - it was the talk of the family. I pointed it out to anyone even vaguely interested in gardening! “Oh yes,” I’d say dismissively, “it’s a penstemon. I’ve always grown them you know!” That might not have been true,
