How to prune sidebells penstemon

After flowering (spring to early summer); early spring for dead-leaf removal. Remove spent flower spikes by cutting cleanly back to the basal rosette once blooms are finished. In early spring, clear dead or frost-blackened leaves from the rosette before new growth emerges, taking care not to damage healthy basal tissue.

Once after flowering; light spring clean-up as needed. Sidebells Penstemon is a low-maintenance native perennial. After the distinctive one-sided flower spikes fade, cut them back to the basal rosette to tidy the plant. The semi-evergreen rosette needs only dead or frost-damaged leaves removed in early spring. No hard pruning or cutting back of healthy foliage is necessary.

Remove spent flower spikes by cutting cleanly back to the basal rosette once blooms are finished. In early spring, clear dead or frost-blackened leaves from the rosette before new growth emerges, taking care not to damage healthy basal tissue.