(Revise 13 Feb 2011)
The attraction of penstemons was concisely described by my favourite Penstemon book as ‘abundance, colour, and charm’. Being native to this continent, it is a shame that it is more popular in Europe than here. In fact, the varieties available in the nurseries here are pathetic. Although many of them are rated as not hardy to this area, we wish we can have a chance to try out anyway.
I would attempt to use them wherever I can in the garden (even though some of them do not have a strong enough stems to stand up on their own). I like the common ‘Husker’s Red’; not sure why some gardeners despise it.

Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’

I have not seen any particularly special attribute yet; perhaps the tall upright dark leaf and pristine lilac white flowers make it a useful filler in the perennial bed.

Penstemon 'Dark Towers'

Penstemon mexicale ‘Sunburst Ruby’

Penstemon mexicale 'Sunburst Ruby'; its structure just strong enough to give it a graceful look without being overly floppy

Penstemon pinifolius compactus

Penstemon pinifolius compactus; a long live groundcover

Penstemon digitalis ‘Huskers Red’

Penstemon digitalis 'Huskers Red' from seeds; one of my favourite penstemons

A closer look at Penstemon digitalis 'Huskers Red'

Penstemon fruticosa ‘Purple haze’?

Penstemon fruticosa 'Purple haze'

Penstemon fruticosa 'Purple haze'?

Penstemon barbatus 'Coccineus'

Penstemon procerus v. brachyanthus

Penstemon procerus v. brachyanthus

Penatemon Pinacolada Series Violet

Penatemon Pinacolada Series Violet

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- Albert Einstein