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Is it safe to cut back my penstemons now? (in greater London) I can see new growth shooting around the bases of the plants and I'm raring to get all last year's growth composting!

I started mine today and cut back one in a barrel.  Not done the ones in the garden yet but will do so tomorrow if it's nice as, like you say, they are growing new stuff at the bottom.

Here is the one I've cut back today - it's a lovely purpley garnet colour

Mine didn't die back were they supposed to? or do you just cut the tops off.

Mine die back, eg you get lots of bare woody stems and new growth appears in spring at the base so you tidy up the plant by cutting the woody bits off (plant propagation material?)

Quote from: Val on April 14, 2005, 17:40:57
Mine didn't die back were they supposed to? or do you just cut the tops off.

If you bend it over and bury the tip in the ground it will root an hey presto another plant.

I also have the purple one.  It has remained bushy all winter.  Do they have to be cut back if they look so healthy :-\

No, I shouldn't think so  :)

Mine don't die back either in the winter (in fact until about a month ago, they were still in flower, even through all the snow). But I cut them back every spring. I think it makes them grow better and stops them from taking over the garden! (or something) I think it encourages new growth and more flowers.

I love penstemons.  There are so many different varieties.  I treat the them a bit like hydrageas, cut back some of the dead wood in autumn but leave some and cut back now. 

Thanks heritage for the bury and runner type tip!

They go on through even the worst of weather and have so many different colours, they are the prennial delight of the garden. 

Prune back hard, a bit like roses, and you will be rewarded!

A bit like fuschias I think, because they grow back from woody stems as long as you take off the really cruddy bits!

:D

Well I did it on Saturday.

My three most established ones produced a bucketful of trimmings for the compost heap each! And there's loads of lovely fresh new growth under the old that was dying to find the light and space.

Some of mine had also rooted themselves in where they'd touched the ground. I pulled them out, though as I didn't have room for them to spread.

Last year's cuttings are still quite small, so I just deadheaded those.