Devon, United Kingdom
Hi everyone. I'm thinking of ordering some Digitalis Illumination, a new perennial foxglove that is completely sterile. This is probably a daft question but will it attract insects? I won't be ordering it if it doesn't have bees buzzing around.
- 28 Jan, 2013
Answers
Its lovely. Where are you getting it from?
28 Jan, 2013
i have a £15 Tesco voucher to use with Thomson and Morgan which just covers the price for 3 jumbo plugs. Delivery is before end of April. P and P is £3.95 but it's ok by me. Fingers crossed that they are sturdy little plants.
28 Jan, 2013
If it is Bees you want, might I suggest that you go for Digitalis purpurea. A native.
Add a buddleia and a couple of other 'bee-friendly' plants, and Bob's your uncle!
29 Jan, 2013
they may well attract the bees but if they are sterile they probably wont produce pollen nor nectar, so a wasted journey for the bee. a nice plant though.
29 Jan, 2013
Fractal, i have purpurea and buddleia but wanted a perennial one. However, I take your point SBG and now it seems rather unfair to lure bees in only to expend their energy unproductively. It must be such a disappointment for them too. I think I'll check with T and M.
29 Jan, 2013
I sincerely hope you're not going to be disappointed with your plugs from t&m, seems a bit pricey to me for 3 plugs, Derek.
29 Jan, 2013
You're right Derek, they are expensive aren't they? Even for 'jumbo plugs'. I assumed it is because they are new and won awards at Chelsea. If not for the Tesco voucher I wouldn't have dreamt of ordering them. I'm living in hope!
31 Jan, 2013
Previous question
« Hello goy friends .... I've bought 2 camellia plants and they already have...
Next question
Thankyou so much Bilbo! So delighted that someone has found out through growing them that they do attract our lovely bumble bees.
I should google gardening questions more often but usually ask here because I sometimes find conflicting advice on the internet. Come to think of it, it happens here too but it's more of a conversation between growers/experts on GOY and is more fun.
28 Jan, 2013