Foxgolove

Digitalis
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun to partial shade. Rabbit and Deer resistant. Deadheading the old blooms will extend the bloom season. The flowers are great for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds.

Digitalis canariensis
An upright, rounded, evergreen shrub, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 3 feet, that is native to the Canary Islands.
The toothed, oval leaves are mid-green.
The large, orange-yellow flowers are borne on upright, dense, upright spiles, up to 12 inches in length during summer.
Hardy zones 9 to 10 in full sun on dry light soil.
Propagated from semi-ripe cuttings taken during summer.

Digitalis ferruginea ( Rusty Foxglove )
A stately, short-lived perennial, reaching up to 6 x 2 feet, it is native from southeast Europe to the Caucasus.
It bears hanging, creamy-yellow flowers, up to 3 inches each. The flowers are borne on dense racemes during early summer.
The narrow oblong leaves, up to 5 inches in length, are glossy mid-green.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in partial shade on dry, humus-rich, well drained soil.

Digitalis 'Goldcrest'
A moderate growing, sturdy, dense, upright perennial, reaching up to 2 x 1 feet in 1.5 years, eventually to 2 x 1.5 feet. It is a hybrid between Digitalis obscura and Digitalis ambigua The lance-shaped leaves are up to 6 x 1.5 inches in size. It bears orangish-yellow ( with deep red markings ) flowers, up to 1.4 x 0.9 inches in size, during mid-summer into early autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun to partial shade.

* photo taken on June 10 2013 in Columbia, MD

* patent photo

Digitalis grandiflora ( Yellow Foxglove )
Also called Digitalis ambigua. A long lived, evergreen perennial, reaching a maximum size of 6 feet x 32 inches, that is native to Eurasia ( from central Europe to Siberia ).
The toothed, lance-shaped leaves, are up to 10 x 2.5 inches in size. The hairy foliage is luxuriant deep green.
The large, deep yellow flowers, up to 3 inches, are borne on windproof spikes, up to 12 inches in length, during early to late summer, often repeating during autumn.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on moist, humus-rich, well drained soil. It prefers a good layer of mulch and deep waterings during summer.

'Creme Bell'
Lower growing, reaching only 2 x 1.7 feet in size.

* photo taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europe's premier plant nursery

Digitalis lanata ( Grecian Foxglove )
An attractive close relative of Digitalis ferruginea, is very similar but lower growing, only reaching up to 4 x 2 feet, with large, creamy-yellow flowers, up to 3 inches each. The flowers are borne on dense racemes during mid to late summer.
The oblong leaves, up to 5 inches in length, are mid-green.
It is native to central & southeastern Europe from the Danube River to Greece.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 in partial shade on humus-rich, well drained soil.

Digitalis lutea ( Straw Foxglove )
A ( often long-lived ) perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 3 feet, that is native to southern Europe as well as northern Africa.
The toothed leaves, up to 4 inches wide, are smooth deep green.
The pale creamy-yellow flowers, up to 1 inch, are borne on spikes during early summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun to part shade on humus-rich, well drained soil.

* photos taken on June 1 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken @ Smithsonian Inst, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* photos taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

Digitalis x mertonensis ( Pink Floxglove )
A compact, perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 3.3 feet.
The attractive, toothed, lance-shaped leaves, up to 12 inches in length, are velvety, glossy mid-green.
The abundant, large, reddish-pink flowers, up to 2.5 inches wide, are borne on spikes, up to 2 feet in length, during early to mid summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on moist, humus-rich, well drained soil. Divide every 2 years to maintain vigor.

* photo taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

* photo taken on June 12 2024 in Howard Co., MD

Digitalis obscura ( Sunset Foxglove )
A woody-based, true perennial, reaching up to 4 x 1.5 feet, that is native to mountains in Spain.
The leathery, lance-shaped leaves are willow-like.
The showy, intense yellow-orange ( veined red ), bell-shaped flowers, up to 1.2 inches long, are borne over a long season from early to mid summer.
The very attractive, evergreen foliage resembles that of Lilium in appearance.
The attractive foliage is narrowly-oblong and glossy mid-green.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on dry, deep, well drained soil.

Digitalis parviflora
A true perennial, reaching up to 3 feet, with small, reddish-brown flowers borne mid summer into early autumn.

Digitalis purpurea ( Purple Foxglove )
A fast growing biennial, reaching a maximum size of 7 x 3 feet, bearing purplish-pink flowers in early summer.
Typically a biennial, it may be a perennial if cut back to the base after flowering. Purple Foxglove is native to western Europe ( from Ireland to Finland; south to the Mediterranean Sea ).
The toothed, lance-shaped leaves are deep green. The leaves are up to 5 x 2.4 inches in size.
The large bell-shaped flowers, up to 3 inches long, are borne in stately spikes, up to 2 feet in length, from late spring into mid summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 ( 3 on protected sites ) in full sun to partial shade, on consistantly moist, acidic, well drained soil. Propagation is easy from the seed which may germinate in as little as 10 days.

* photo taken on May 8 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on June 1 2011 in Ellicott City, MD

* photo taken by J.E. Schwartz @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

* photos taken on May 18 2014 in Elkridge, MD

* historical archive photo

'Alba'
Reaches up to 7 feet with white flowers.

* photo taken on June 18 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo of unknown internet source

* historical archive photo

'Apricot Beauty'
Reaches up to 5 feet with soft orangish-pink flowers.

'Arctic Fox Rose'
Compact and upright, reaching up to 3 x 1.5 feet.
The rose-pink flowers are borne drom late spring into late summer. Flowers often appear during the first year.

* patent photo

'Camelot Lavender'
Dwarf in habit, reaching only 4 feet in height. Unlike regular D. purpurea, it tends to bloom both the first and second year.

* photo taken on Apr 15 2024 in Elkridge, MD

* photos taken on May 6 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

'Camelot Rose'
Dwarf in habit, reaching only 3 feet in height. Unlike regular D. purpurea, it tends to bloom both the first and second year.

* photo taken on Aug 1 2013 in Stratford, Ontario

* photo taken on May 9 2024 in Elkridge, MD

'Candy Mountain'
Fast growing, sturdy and upright, reaching up to 4 feet.
Intense deep rosy-pink flowers during early summer. The flowers face upward unlike the species.

'Candy Mountain White'
Fast growing, sturdy and upright, reaching up to 4 feet.
Pure white ( with deep purple flecks in throat ) flowers during early summer. The flowers face upward unlike the species.

'Dalmatian Peach'
Upright in habit, reaching up to 3 feet, with pale orangish-pink ( with deep orange speckled throat ) flowers during early summer ( earlier than other varieties )

'Dalmatian Purple'
Upright in habit, reaching up to 3 feet, with lilac-purple ( with deep red speckled throat ) flowers during early summer ( earlier than other varieties ).

* photo taken on May 29 2024 in Elkridge, MD

'Excelsior'
A biennial, reaching up to 6.5 feet with very large ( up to 3 inch ) flowers of varying shades of pink or white. The flower spikes are very dense with flowers borne all around the stem.

'Foxy'
Compact in habit, reaching up to 4 x 2.5 ( rarely over 3 ) feet with flowers of varying color ( white, yellow or red ). Blooms all summer if deadheaded.
If seeds are sown early enough during spring, it may bloom within 5 months with as many as 10 spikes and even more the following year. Most other Digitalis purpurea cultivars don't bloom until the second year.

* photo taken on June 7 2012 in Columbia, MD

'Giant Shirley'
Sturdy in habit, reaching up to 9 ( rarely over 6 ) feet in height.
It is otherwise similar to the species.

'Prairie Giant'
A new variety reaching a maximum height of 6 feet, with huge basal leaves, up to 24 x 4.5 inches in size, and massive 9 inch wide blooms.

'Virtuosa Red'
Reaches up to 5 feet in height, with strong stems bearing large, rose-purple flowers.

* photo taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europe's premier plant nursery

Digitalis thapsi
A perennial, reaching up to 2 feet in height, that is native to mountains of Portugal and Spain.
The fuzzy foliage is mid-green.
The branched flower stalks bear purple-red flowers ( with spotted throat ), up to 2 inches wide, from late spring to mid summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 8.

'Spanish Peaks'
Rosy-red flowers on spikes up to 12 inches in length.