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Plant Profile: Digitalis - Foxglove

Digitalis

Digitalis - "Strawberry Foxglove"

Family: Plantaginaceae

Common Name(s): Foxglove

Native to: Europe, Asia & Africa

Flowering: Spring-Summer

Watering: Drought tolerant

Planting Aspect: Full sun to part shade

Preferred Climate: Temperate


Description

With its lovely bell-like flowers and dark green, velvety foliage is a true perennial worthy of its place in any mixed herbaceous border or garden. It is a frost hardy clump forming plant 30cm wide and produces a rosette of soft, hairy, oval leaves with erect spikes of blooms to about 90cm tall. If grown contentedly in temperate to cool climates, second and even third showings of flowers can be produced after the initial spring flush.

Cultivation

Foxglove will grow in most sheltered conditions in part shade and rich, organic, well drained soil. Prepare the planting site by digging over the soil and adding a good handful of blood and bone or rich compost prior to planting out. Water in well at planting time and then on an occasional basis to promote growth. Cut flowering stems down to the ground after spring flowering to encourage secondary spikes. The plants can be divided each year at dormancy to assist for future cropping surety. No particular pests or diseases but protect them from snails and slugs.
Revised: 18th Dec 2009 @ 1:15 PM
Keywords: digitalis, foxglove, plantaginaceae, digitalis, foxglove, planting, nursery, plant, spring, flowering