Delightful Digitalis

I first fell for the perennial foxglove (Digitalis x mertonensis) when it was included in a Luciano Giubillei Chelsea Show garden several years ago. It was planted in swathes alongside Stipa tenuissims and the beautiful allium nectaroscordum siculum.

A week after that Chelsea discovery, I found mertonensis growing in a partially shaded woodland garden belonging to a friend. Seeds were taken, with permission, I hasten to add and this beautiful addition is the result.

Digitalis are usually short-lived perennials forming a rosette of simple leaves with bell-shaped flowers in slender, erect, usually one-sided racemes. D. × mertonensis is a semi-evergreen, clump-forming perennial to 75cm, with dark green leaves and long, erect spikes of crushed raspberry tinted flowers.

Needless to say this beauty will be a regular in the garden…

Author: Mike the Gardener

Freelance gardening writer, consultant and designer. Mike Palmer is a passionate and professional plantsman, offering services in garden writing, consultancy and garden design. Mike is also available for garden and plant related talks and presentations. Mike has been a professional horticulturalist for over fifteen years. View all posts by Mike the Gardener