As you all know, I am a great lover of Digitalis and in particular the perennials. I have been meaning to get D.Laevigata on our list for a while and had great hopes when I set seed last year. It does not disappoint, with it’s soft orange-yellow flowers with purple netting and a white lower lip, though those of you expecting the blousey \u00a0flowers of the biennial types will be disappointed. Like most of the perennial types\u00a0Digitalis laevigata,<\/i>\u00a0the flowers are much smaller, neater and are best examined close up. They’re at their best when planted en masse, I find. Also known as the Grecian foxglove, (although its origins are probably in SE Europe)\u00a0and smooth foxglove, a translation of it’s Latin species name. \u201cSmooth\u201d refers to the leaves, which have more in common with a large plantain than with Digitalis purpurea, the flowers are akin to tiny Acanthus flowers.<\/i>\u00a0 I also rather like the way the old leaves turn into a sort of textured mosaic of colors and patterns.\u00a0I think that Digitalis laevigata should be more widely grown. The flowers are unique, and it’s a reliable perennial for part shade.
\nPosition: Woodland shade
\nSoil: Any well drained
\nRate of growth: Moderate
\nFlowering period: Late Spring
\nHardiness: Hardy
\nPot size: 9cm
\nEventual height and spread: 24″ x 8″<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This fully hardy, perennial, semi-evergreen plant opens its orange and pink, large-lipped, bell-shaped flowers all summer long, and if sown early flowers the first year. With high drought tolerance, it grows well both in semi-shade and direct sun.<\/p>\n
Position: Woodland shade
\nSoil: Any well drained
\nRate of growth: Moderate
\nFlowering period: Late Spring
\nHardiness: Hardy
\nPot size: 9cm
\nEventual height and spread: 24″ x 8″<\/p>\n
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