The Wikipedia article about Penstemon notes: “Although penstemons are among the most attractive native flowers of North America, Europe has traditionally been far more active in their hybridization with hundreds of hybrids developed since the early 19th century."
Why is this so? Is it that the North American natives don’t grow well in the moister climate of Europe, so the Europeans have created hybrids that do better in their wet climate? Or do the Europeans just appreciate beauty? Or...?