Question of the Week 10/17/2020

Q: My pineleaf penstemon is brown in the middle. The only green on it is on the outer edges. It looks terrible - is there anything I can do to fix this?

A: Plants get old just like we do. Sometimes plants can lose their vigor as they age and eventually need to be replaced. With a pineleaf penstemon, we suggest hard pruning it before you buy another.

Cut at least 2/3 of the plant off until it is 3-4 inches above the ground. The plant will be small but it should start to regenerate and grow like a new plant. It will look rough for a season or two but with some water, fertilizer, and patience, the penstemon will look as good as new.

If there is no growth within 6 weeks, replace the plant.