Digitalis parviflora

Small-flowered foxglove naturally occurs in northern Spain from where it has spread throughout the whole Europe where winter temperatures do not drop lower than about -34°C. Unlike its hybrid relatives with large flowers this one is a true perennial which does propagates well with seeds but whose mother plant remains alive for many years, offering taller stems and more flowers year by year.

Flowers of this species are really small but appear in profusion. They are light terracotta in colour on the outside, and rich golden orange in the throat with some crimson red on the tongue. They are conspicuously hairy and open from early July until mid August. Leaves are narrowly lance-shaped, mid green and climb up the stems up to the first flower. Stems usually rise to about 60 cm, exceptionally taller on older plants. Foxglove is a toxic plant, and despite the fact that it doesn’t make any fruit-like berries that would attract children it is not recommended for mass plantings near playgrounds, school yards, or kindergartens.

Foxglove will grow in almost any soil apart from too wet or too dry. In the wild it is found in humus-rich soils in light woods and its margins, which means that it will love partial shade in your garden, or full sun if kept moist. Excess fertilizing may cause profusion of leaves at the cost of flowers. Hardy to about -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 03-02-2014.