Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Onyx and Pearls Penstemon: Near-Black Leaves and Pale Flowers
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Onyx and Pearls penstemon pairs glossy, near-black purple foliage with pale lilac flowers that have white, flared interiors. From a distance the blooms read as white, so the plant looks like a haze of pearls floating over dark stone. It is a tall, full beardtongue, about 42 inches, and flowers from early into midsummer.
Onyx and Pearls at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Penstemon 'Onyx and Pearls' |
| Flowers | Pale lilac tubes about 1 inch long with white interiors |
| Foliage | Glossy, lance-shaped, near-black purple |
| Size | About 42 inches tall, 38 to 42 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts mid-June, into midsummer |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Hummingbirds and bees |
A dark backdrop for violet spikes
Lavender's violet flowers and silver leaves look their best against something dark. Onyx and Pearls gives you that: a full clump of near-black leaves that stays dramatic all season, topped in early summer with pale flowers at the same moment lavender is coming into color. Plant it behind a row of lavender and the purple wands seem to glow in front of it.
At about 3 1/2 feet tall and wide, it is a back-of-bed or focal plant. In a naturalized planting or sunny border, use one as a centerpiece with lavender ringed around it, leaving room for air between them. Plan the spacing in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Site: full sun, the same as lavender.
- Soil: average and well drained. Winter wet is the main risk, so avoid low spots.
- Water: regular watering the first season; drought tolerant afterward.
- After bloom: cut spent flower stems back to the basal foliage. The dark leaves carry on looking good.
- Bare root planting: set the crown at soil level in loose, well-drained soil and water it in.
It takes heat and humidity, is very cold hardy and is seldom bothered by pests, a handy set of traits for Great Lakes summers.
Plug tray or bare root
Onyx and Pearls is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray for growers and large plantings, and as a bare root plant for direct garden planting. See each product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
Are the flowers white or lilac?
Both. They are very pale lilac with white interiors, and from a distance they read as white.
Will hummingbirds visit?
Yes. Hummingbirds and bees visit the tubular flowers, a nice addition to a pollinator-friendly lavender garden.
Does it keep its dark color all summer?
The near-black leaves are the plant's year-round feature. Full sun keeps the color at its richest.
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