Digitalis 'Saltwood Summer' (Orchid Foxglove)

Digitalis 'saltwood Summer' (Orchid Foxglove)

£9.99

Position: full sun to partial shade
Soil: moist, humus-rich soil
Rate of growth: average to fast-growing Flowering period: May to July Flower colour: pure white splashed with red
Hardiness: fully hardy
A relatively new foxglove with distinctive leaves and habit, and a flower spike over 1.5m (5ft) tall. In May, cream buds open into pure white flowers with four curved petals splashed with red. This is a stunning plant that is bound to become a talking point in your garden, due to the curious, 'lipped' appearance of the flowers, which look more like orchids than foxgloves. Although short-lived given the right conditions it will perpetuate by self-seeding.All parts of the plant may cause severe discomfort if ingested and contact with the foliage may irritate skin.Garden care: Ensure that the soil is kept moist in summer.After flowering cut back the flowered spikes to encourage more sideshoots. Cut down to the ground after flowering. Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-ro tted organic matter around the plant in early spring.These plants are mainly biennial, although they will produce plenty of new sideshoots and self-seed freely.

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