Foxglove, Strawberry

Description

Digitalis × mertonensis| Strawberry Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea x Digitalis grandiflora)

Strawberry Foxglove, also called Merton’s Foxglove, or Fairy’s Glove, is a short-lived hybrid foxglove variety with parents of D. purpurea (biennial) and D. grandiflora (perennial). Plants start off as a velvet-leaved basal rosette for the first 1 or 2 years until eventually tubular, funnel-shaped, coppery-rose flowers (with blooms that are larger and wider than those of either parent) are borne on terminal racemes atop 3 ft tall spires, which have an extended bloom period, lasting through most of the summer! The tall flower spikes provide nice vertical height to the border and are particularly effective in front of dark or contrasting backgrounds. Also very effective in woodland gardens or naturalized areas.

Seems to prefer full sun over shade. A fertilizer boost during new growth in spring could coax it into flowering.

Attractive to hummingbirds and bumblebees.

Type: Perennial

Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade

Mature height: 3 ft

Mature width: 18 inches

Hardiness zones: 4-8