strawberry foxglove
Digitalis mertonensis
Overview
Strawberry foxglove (Digitalis mertonensis) is a stunning sight with its racemes of pink-red pendent flowers and softly furry leaves. It's an evergreen perennial with a beautiful two-tone flower that blooms from June until September. Growing to around 1-2 feet, it's great for adding bright colour and texture in front of borders and beds. It's superb for attracting bees, butterflies and other pollinators, providing nectar for them. Its strong roots make it a great addition to rock gardens, with minimal maintenance and great drought tolerance. A really great, all-round plant to include in any garden.
Care Guide
Watering
Strawberry Foxglove needs moderate watering and should be kept consistently moist. It is best to water them regularly, but let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings. Water these plants until the soil is completely saturated. During the summer months, these plants should be watered deeply once a week or more if the weather is very hot and dry. For watering during the cooler months, reduce the frequency to once every 2 weeks or less. If your soil is very sandy, it may be beneficial to water more often.
Light
Strawberry foxglove (Digitalis mertonensis) prefers full sun to partial shade and will thrive in most soil types. It does best in well-drained soil with good aeration. Full sun is typically defined as 6 or more hours of direct sun per day, and the optimal daylight hours for this plant species will vary based on the region it is growing in. In areas with strong direct summer sunlight, you could safely provide the plant with 8 to 10 hours of direct sun each day. In areas with weaker sunlight, 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day should be sufficient.
Temperature
Hardiness zone 4-8.
Pruning
Strawberry foxglove (Digitalis mertonensis) is best pruned in late winter or early spring. Pruning back the plant to a height of about 8-12 inches is recommended, as it encourages branching and encourages a fuller, bushier plant. This species also responds well to light pinching, which can be done throughout the growing season to encourage a fuller yet neat and tidy appearance. When pruning back strawberry foxglove, it is important to use a sharp pair of shears and try to cut back only to the first set of healthy buds, so as not to damage the plant.
Propagation
Division, Seed Propagation, Cutting
Uses & Symbolism
Attracts: Hummingbirds.
Related plants
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