Penstemon 'Lady Hamilton'

Description and Characteristics

Penstemon ‘Lady Hamilton’ is a charming, upright herbaceous perennial celebrated for its long flowering season and softly coloured, bell-shaped blooms. A classic cottage garden variety, it features rose-pink tubular flowers with pale or white throats, borne on elegant spikes above a bushy mound of mid-green foliage. The flowers are lightly marked with nectar guides, which attract bees, butterflies, and hoverflies throughout the summer and early autumn.

This cultivar typically reaches 60–80 cm in height and spreads around 40–50 cm, making it an excellent choice for mid-border planting, cutting gardens, and pollinator-friendly designs. Like other penstemons, ‘Lady Hamilton’ provides reliable colour through the warm months with minimal care and maintenance.

Known for its vigorous habit and strong flowering performance, this variety works well as a standalone feature or in combination with other perennials, especially in informal, cottage-style plantings.

• Upright perennial with pink tubular flowers and pale throats

• Height: 60–80 cm; Spread: 40–50 cm

• Flowering period: June to October

• Attractive to bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects

• Excellent for borders, wildlife gardens, and floral arrangements

• A well-known, free-flowering and resilient variety

Growing Conditions and Maintenance

Penstemon ‘Lady Hamilton’ is easy to grow and maintain in sunny, well-drained conditions, and will reward minimal effort with months of colour. Proper pruning and mulching help prolong its lifespan, especially in colder climates.

• Light Requirements:

  • Prefers full sun, but will tolerate partial shade

  • Needs at least 5–6 hours of sun daily for best flowering

• Soil Preferences:

  • Grows best in light, free-draining soil

  • Will tolerate loam, sandy, or chalky soils

  • Avoid planting in heavy clay or poorly drained areas

• Watering Needs:

  • Water regularly during the establishment phase

  • Once established, it is fairly drought-tolerant

  • Avoid overwatering, especially in cooler months

• Feeding:

  • Apply a balanced fertiliser in early spring

  • In containers, feed every 2–3 weeks during the growing season

• Deadheading and Pruning:

  • Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering

  • In early spring, cut back stems to 10–15 cm above ground level

  • Do not prune hard in autumn—leave stems over winter for crown protection

• Winter Care:

  • Hardy in Zones 7–9 (RHS H4–H5); tolerates down to approx. -5°C to -10°C

  • In colder areas, apply a thick mulch in autumn to protect the crown

  • Ensure good drainage to avoid root rot in winter

Garden Uses, Companion Plants, and Pollinator Benefits

Penstemon ‘Lady Hamilton’ is a classic and reliable choice for mixed borders and wildlife-friendly gardens, offering soft colour, upright form, and benefits to pollinators. It is especially suited to informal and traditional designs.

• Design Applications:

  • Ideal for mixed borders, cottage gardens, pollinator beds, and cutting gardens

  • Provides height and movement in mid-border positions

  • Can be repeated throughout a scheme for rhythm and cohesion

• Companion Plants:

  • Pairs beautifully with Achillea, Echinacea, Salvia, Coreopsis, Gaura, and Nepeta

  • Mix with ornamental grasses or silver foliage plants like Stachys or Artemisia

  • Complements other pink and purple perennials for a harmonious pastel scheme

• Pollinator Benefits:

  • A magnet for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies

  • Tubular flowers provide nectar throughout summer and into autumn

  • A great plant for pollinator pathways and sustainable gardening

• Container Use:

  • Can be grown in deep containers with well-draining compost

  • Water and feed regularly for strong flowering

  • Place in a sunny, sheltered spot on patios or balconies

• Pest and Disease Resistance:

  • Generally pest- and disease-free

  • Watch for slugs, aphids, or powdery mildew in very wet or humid conditions

  • Ensure good air circulation and avoid excessive shade

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

Click here for more information about our shipping conditions.

You can pay your online order either by credit card or via Paypal.
If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.