Digitalis canariensis
Canary Island foxglove
An evergreen, sparingly-branched shrub, to 1.5m in height, with serrated, oval, dark green leaves. Flowers are foxglove-like with a flattened appearance, reddish-orange or apricot in colour and held on upright spikes to 30cm in length
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
1–1.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Brown Orange Yellow | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H2Botanical details
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Potentially harmful
- TOXIC if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
- Genus
Digitalis can be biennials or usually short-lived perennials forming a rosette of simple leaves with bell-shaped flowers in slender, erect, usually one-sided racemes
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Canary Islands
How to grow
Cultivation
Under glass grow in loam-based potting compost John Innes No.2 in full or bright filtered light with low to moderate humidity, during growth water moderately and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly, water sparingly in winter; outdoors, in frost-free climates grow in moist but well-drained soil in sun or part shade with shelter
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in pots at 18-24°C in spring, propagate by softwood cuttings in spring or by semi-ripe cuttings in summer with bottom heat
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Sub-tropical
- Coastal
- Patio and container plants
- Flower borders and beds
- Wall side borders
Pruning
Pruning group 9 cut back main flower spike as it fades to encourage the growth of flowering side shoots
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids and leaf and bud eelworm
Diseases
May be susceptible to powdery mildews, downy mildews and leaf spot
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.