Digitalis (Foxglove)
at Digging Dog

Including Digitalis ferruginea, Digitalis x mertonensis, & Digitalis purpurea

Digitalis

Foxglove

Digitalis used to be called “Folks Glove,” because its flower resembled the finger of gloves worn by “good folk” or fairies, who, like the plant, dwell in deep hollows and woody dells. This poisonous herb grows easily in any fertile soil, seeds itself freely, and lends a naturalized look at the edge of woodlands, especially when combined with Aruncus, Actaea, or ferns.

Digitalis ferruginea ‘Gigantea Gelber Herold’   

Rusty Foxglove

Originally found on Krk Island off the Yugoslavian coastline, Rusty Foxglove boasts distinctive copper-hued towers of bloom. Lanceolate, dark evergreen leaves form a handsome base for the tightly packed large, thimble-shaped flowers colored in cheerful yellows with rust accents. A powerful presence in the garden or in an arrangement, let its stately stance echo the vertical blades of Calamagrostis, while blue Aconitum provides glorious complementary color. Readily reseeding, this intriguing biennial will bring years of enjoyment.

Blooms July–August.

Size: 5' high x 18"–2' wide; hardy to zone 6.

Digitalis ferruginea Gigantea Gelber Herold (P-0931)
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Digitalis purpurea ‘Snow Thimble’   

Majestic spires of snowy white flowers rise above upright stems and attractive lanceolate leaves. Touted as the first seed strain of pure white blooms, this biennial Foxglove looks outstanding in a drift with Corydalis ‘Blue Panda’, and perpetuates itself by easily reseeding. Zone 5/6.

Blooms May–July.

Size: 3-1/2'–4' high x 18" wide; hardy to zone 6.

AVAILABLE MAY 2008

Digitalis purpurea Snow Thimble (P-1104)
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Digitalis purpurea ‘Sutton’s Apricot’   

Vigorous and upright, this biennial cultivar is named for the large, pendulous apricot blooms that crowd its imposing, straight stems. The medium green leathery leaves are slightly wooly, large at the base of the stalk and smaller as they ascend.

Coveted by bumblebees, hummingbirds and gardeners alike, ‘Sutton’s Apricot’ dresses the garden in pastels and a carefree style.

Blooms April–June.

Size: 4' high x 2' wide; hardy to zone 6.

Digitalis purpurea Sutton’s Apricot (P-0196)
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Digitalis trojana     

Helen Of Troy Foxglove

Straight-backed stems, garbed in gleaming darkly green lanceolate leaves with fine gray haired margins, spring from a handsome evergreen rosette. Indigenous to Turkey, this hard-to-find foxglove’s signature is its remarkable soft-looking, earthy flower spikes. fuzzy, tightly set, silver washed buds unveil caramel-colored blossoms, featuring elaborately patterned gold and rusty brown throats and luminous white lips. Long blooming, more drought tolerant than other digitalis and happiest in a cool, somewhat shady setting, it can be positioned next to Salvia forsskaolii.

Zone 5/6.

Blooms June–August.

Size: 2'–2-1/2' high x 12" wide; hardy to zone 6.

Digitalis trojana (p-1443)
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Digitalis x mertonensis   

Strawberry Foxglove

This evergreen Foxglove is loved for its lush, velvety, dark green basal foliage. Its large flowers are tinged with rosy mauve and peppered with coppery sandstone. Divide after blooming to maintain as a perennial. Combine with Geranium ‘Langthorn’s Blue’ to make a bold statement.

Blooms July–August.

Size: 2' high x 12" wide; hardy to zone 5.

Digitalis x mertonensis (p-0195)
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