DIGITALIS. Foxglove. Europe, North Africa and Asia. Biennial to perennial plants of the snapdragon family. They have rosettes of attractive large, often hairy leaves. Their tubular to bell shaped blossoms are borne in dense spikes, mostly in spring and summer. The flowers are variously colored and often interestingly marked on the inner surface. All parts of the plants in some species are toxic, so they are not good companions for small children. Sun or light shade, reasonably well drained, fertile soil, moderate watering. Hardy to 10^oF. or below.

dubia. This is a new acquaintance for me. It has crowns of grey-green leaves, densely hairy on their undersides. From these rise 1-1½’ stalks carrying loose clusters of (in this strain) light pink flowers, about 1½“ long, with darker spotting in the throats.

ferruginea. This species has rosettes of dark green, lance shaped leaves and narrow 2-5’ spikes of rust-red and yellow flowers, typically a little over an inch long. Newer strains have larger flowers ranging from bright yellow to dark red in color.

grandiflora (ambigua) and lutea have shiny, narrow leaves and small pale yellow flowers, marked with brown, on 2-3’ stems.

laevigata has foliage similar to the last, and cream-colored flowers with brown markings on 3’ stems.

lanata is distinguished by broader, hairier leaves and densely clustered, helmeted white and chocolate flowers.

x mertonensis is a reputed hybrid of D. grandiflora and D. purpurea, much resembling the second parent. It has broad, deeply veined leaves, dark and shiny on their upper surface, paler and hairy beneath. In summer it bears several 2-3’ stems, each crowded with broad rose pink bells, marked inside with white and brown.

obscura. Willow-leaved foxglove. This is an intriguing plant, which I hope will gain a larger following in the years to come. It is shrubby, unlike most of the foxgloves, producing several leafy 1-2’ stems from the base. Their leaves are narrow and pointed, deep green and softly shiny above. Slender stalks rise from the shoot tips from late spring to fall, carrying nodding flowers, burnt orange in this strain, marked with red and yellow within.

purpurea. This is the common foxglove, long treasured for its elegant stature and beautiful flowers. Each plant makes several rosettes of long-stalked, furry leaves. The blooming stems are 2-4’ tall, carrying many nodding bells, each up to 3" long. Colors now include the full range from snow white to crimson, plus apricot and coral shades. ‘Foxy’ is a seed strain producing floriferous plants, blooming in their first year, with the full range of flower colors. ‘Apricot’ has unusual orange-pink flowers. These are often biennial, dying after one blooming season, but their life can be extended by cutting off spent flower stems before seed pods develop.