Gro 'n Sell
Biennial Digitalis
These species and hybrids aren't part of any one specific series but have much to offer. These generally behave as true biennials, meaning they need the cold of winter before they will flower.
D. lanata 'Café Crème' is a short lived perennial, generally flowering in its second year. I suspect it will flower in the spring following fall planting. Said to be hardy to zone 5, we've always had it survive here on our zone 3 farm under decent snow cover. Brown and white flowers combine for an overall mocha feel. Very cool and textural, something rarely seen in the cut flower market.
D. 'Snow Thimble' is unusual in that it is a pure white foxglove with no spots in the throat. Perfect for a summer white wedding. It is a true biennial, so it must go through the chill of winter before flowering.
D. 'Apricot Beauty' is a true biennial, and need a cold winter period to trigger flowering the following spring
D. x Mertonensis is a hybrid of a biennial and a perennial foxglove and it can live for 2-3 years. Expect best flowering in year 2. "Crushed Strawberries" is often used to describe the color.
D. 'Foxy' is an old standby. It is a slightly dwarf series, reaching about 3' in height in a range of typical colors. A true biennial that flowers in its second year.
Grown in 128 tray, billed as 125. Most are for summer/fall shipping only.
Order 9 or more weeks in advance of your desired ship date.
About Tray Sizes
210 and 125 cell trays are full-sized trays, and three of these will fit in a shipping box.
50 cell trays are half-sized trays (unless otherwise noted) and two of these are the equivelent of one full sized tray. Six of these will fit in a shipping box.
18 and 32 cell trays are full sized trays specifically for our vernalized perennials. These have their own set of shipping rules (find details HERE) and cannot be combined with items grown in 210, 125, or 50 cell trays.
Growing Guides
Click here to access all of our comprehensive growing guides.
| Common Name | Foxglove |
| Genus | Digitalis |
| Species | D. purpurea |
| Family | Plantaginaceae |
| Life Cycle | Biennial, cultivars Camelot and Dalmatian can be grown as annual |
| Format | Plugs |
| Plug Care | Do not allow to become rootbound - bump up into larger cells or plant soon after receiving. |
| Netting / Staking | Not necessary for Camelot or Dalmatian, taller true biennial varieties benefit from one layer of support especially in windy areas. |
| Temperature Range | Zones 4-9, can survive in colder zones with some protection (frost cloth or caterpillar tunnel) through the winter. |
| Spacing | 10-12" |
| Soil Preference | Very tolerant of soil conditions but prefers evenly moist, loose soil high in organic matter. |
| Day Length | Obligate long day. Grow in full sun. Can tolerate some light shade in extreme southern/hot conditions. |
| Pinching | No |
| When to Plant | Plant in the fall and overwinter for early season blooms the following year. This will yield the largest stems. Plant in early spring a couple weeks before last frost for blooms later that summer. If planted after the soil warms up, plants will likely remain vegetative year one and flower the following year. |
| Harvesting | Cut when approximately 1/3 of the flowers on the spike are open. The remaining buds will continue to open after harvest. |
| Post Harvest Care | Place cut stems immediately into cool water. Expect a vase life of about a week, although lower flowers may drop early. Digitalis are sensitive to ethylene gas which shortens the vase life. The use of a floral conditioner can help extend the vase life. Can be stored in a cooler for a short period of time if not needed for immediate use. |
| Diseases / Insects | Powdery mildew and other foliar diseases can become an issue in long periods of high humidity and damp conditions. Increase air flow around plants and utilize drip irrigation to avoid wetting the foliage. Aphids and thrips are common insects to watch out for with this crop. |
| Bailey's Notes |
All parts of the plant are poisonous, but don't let this scare you away from growing it. Many ornamental plants we grow are toxic and should simply not be consumed. Currently in our shop we offer two varieties of digitalis - Camelot and Dalmatian. Both of these cultivars are bred to be consistently first year flowering. We may offer other varieties of D. purpurea or other species of digitalis (D. lanata, D. grandiflora, D. ambigua or hybrids) in the future, which may behave differently and we will update the grow guides accordingly. Sometimes side branches will develop after the main stalk has been cut, but this is unreliable. For continuous blooms, try succession sowing plugs - one succession in the fall and another one or two staggered in early spring. |
| Resources |