Penstemon ‘Catherine de la Mare’

Penstemon heterophyllus

A feature in St Erth’s new perennial border with fascinating iridescent blue blooms. Makes a wonderful cut flower.

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Penstemon ‘Catherine de la Mare’

A cottage garden classic, Penstemon 'Catherine de la Mare' is a long-flowering beauty that thrives with minimal fuss. Its elegant spires of violet-blue, trumpet-shaped blooms create a stunning contrast against deep green foliage, adding soft colour to garden beds for months on end. Highly resilient, it handles heat, dry spells, and light frosts, making it a top choice for Australian gardens. Loved by bees and beneficial insects, this easy-care perennial is perfect for borders, mixed plantings, or as a cut flower.
How to grow

Position: Plant in full sun for best flowering, though it will tolerate light shade. Prefers well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Avoid heavy, waterlogged soils.

Planting: Space plants 40–50cm apart to allow good air circulation. Water in well after planting. Mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Watering: Once established, Penstemon is drought-tolerant, requiring only occasional deep watering in dry periods. Water young plants regularly until roots are well-developed.

Fertilising: Feed in early spring with a balanced organic fertiliser or compost to promote strong growth and abundant flowering. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which encourages leafy growth over blooms.

Pruning & Maintenance: Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming. In late winter or early spring, trim the plant back by one-third to promote fresh new growth and maintain a compact shape. Remove any weak or woody stems to improve airflow and reduce the risk of disease.

Generally pest-resistant, but watch for aphids in spring. Avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal issues, especially in humid conditions.

Perfect for cottage gardens, borders, and mixed plantings, Penstemon 'Catherine de la Mare' is a tough, reliable performer that brings effortless charm to any garden.

Growing Information

Growing Needs
Light: Full Sun/Part shade
Water: seasonal watering
Heat Zone: 1-9

Choose plants appropriate to your heat and cold zone to ensure they will succeed in your garden. Learn more.

Cold Zone: 7-10
Plant Characteristics
Type: Herbaceous/Semi-Deciduous

Learn more about the characteristics of plants

Height: 50CM
Width: 50CM
Flower colour: Blue
Flowering: Jan-Apr
Pot Size:
Pot Size: Super Tube

We choose the right size pot for your plant to ensure it will travel well through the post. Learn more

Delivery timeframe

Please note that we are currently despatching orders for all in-stock items within 5 - 7 business days.

Orders to WA, NT and TAS require quarantine clearance. These orders are shipped weekly which may impact delivery timeframes. Please allow an additional week to receive your package.

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Our team carefully pack each order to ensure that live plants are well watered, are securely packed will arrive healthy, ready for transplanting in your garden.

However if within 90 days, your plant is not performing as expected, please contact us. We will work with you to help recover the plant, but if unsuccessful we will provide a replacement or credit under our 90 day Member Satisfaction Guarantee.

Please note our policy on living product covers only those selected for your appropriate climate zone.

Postage Rates

Seed only orders:
$6.50

Plant orders:
1-14 plants: $11.95
15+ plants: $21.95

seeds can be added for no additional charge

Hardware, books, bulbs, tuber orders:
$10.95

seeds can be added for no additional charge

Plants with any other combination of hardware, books, bulbs or tubers:
1-14 plants: $22.90
15+ plants: $32.90

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Quarantine surcharge:
$6.00 - covers additional cost of mandatory inspections for WA, NT and TAS orders only

Pre-orders

Items available for pre-order will be despatched as soon as the season permits, as indicated by the expected delivery date.