Penstemon may be deciduous or evergreen perennials or subshrubs, with simple, narrow leaves and racemes or panicles of bell-shaped or funnel-shaped flowers in summer and early autumn
'Port Wine' is a stiffly erect, semi-evergreen perennial to 90cm in height, with narrow dark foliage and panicles or racemes of bell-shaped deep wine-red flowers, the throat white, streaked with dark red