Midnight Masquerade Penstemon - 72-Cell Plug Tray

Midnight Masquerade is a taller beardtongue, 36 to 40 inches in bloom, grown as much for its deep burgundy-purple foliage as for its flowers. The leaf color is darkest in full sun and stays good all season.

In early summer, dark stems lift purple flowers with bright white interiors just above the leaves. The plant is full and neat, with strong color and reliable flowering. It handles heat, humidity and hard winters, is drought tolerant once settled, and draws hummingbirds and bees.

What it looks like

Tall, dark purple stems carry clusters of tubular flowers about an inch long, rich violet-purple on the outside with pure white, flared throats. The leaves are lance-shaped, glossy and deep burgundy-purple, darkest where they catch direct sun, forming a sturdy basal clump with smaller leaves up the stems. The plant grows about 36 to 40 inches tall in bloom and 28 to 32 inches wide. At peak bloom purple-and-white flowers float on dark stems just above the dark foliage.

Growing it with lavender

Midnight Masquerade shares lavender's need for sun and drainage, and its burgundy-purple leaves make a dark foil that sets off lavender's gray-green foliage and violet spikes.

Care

Grow in full sun in average, well-drained soil, setting the crown level with the soil; avoid spots that stay wet, especially in winter. Hardy in zones 3-8 and drought tolerant once established. Cut flower stems back to the foliage after bloom to keep the dark leaves as the main feature.

At a glance

• Botanical name: Penstemon
• Flower color: Violet purple with white interiors
• Foliage: Deep burgundy purple
• Growth habit: Sturdy upright clump
• Mature size: 36–40 in tall × 28–32 in wide
• USDA hardiness zones: 3–8
• Light: full sun
• Bloom start: Early-June
• Peak bloom: Mid-June
• Bloom pattern: Single Flush
• Deer resistance: Moderately resistant
• Pollinator value: Great

Sizes and shipping

One full 72-cell plug tray: 72 young starter plugs of this variety (cells about 1⅓ in. wide × 2½ in. deep), rooted and ready to pot up into quarts or gallons. Best for growers and nurseries. Potted plants and plug trays ship during our live-plant seasons, March 1–May 31 and October 1–November 30; June through September is local pickup only. Plugs, potted plants and trays do not ship to AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, UT or WA.