Digitalis sceptrum
sceptre foxglove
A tender evergreen shrub, up to 1.8m high, with toothed, ovate to ovate-oblong leaves and racemes up to 13cm long of yellow flowers, netted inside with tawny-brown, in summer; many Digitalis species are a reliably good source of nectar for bumblebees, especially long-tongued bumblebees
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Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
1.5–2.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Brown Orange Yellow | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H2Botanical details
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- 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
- Madeira
How to grow
Cultivation
In frost-free areas, grow in a sheltered position in a sunny to partially shaded site in well-drained soil; in frost-prone areas, grow in a cool greenhouse with minimum night temperatures of 5-10°C, in medium-fertility loam-based compost, such as John Innes No. 2, with added sand and leafmould, water plentifully in summer but moderately in winter, and keep plants well ventilated
Propagation
Propagate by seed, sown at 18-24°C in a sandy seed mixture in spring; by softwood cuttings in spring; or by semi-ripe cuttings in summer with bottom heat
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Coastal
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Gravel garden
- Patio and container plants
- Mediterranean climate plants
- Wall side borders
Pruning
No pruning required except deadheading to encourage further flowering
Pests
May be susceptible to caterpillars, glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly but generally pest-free
Diseases
May be susceptible to fungal leaf spots, powdery mildews, downy mildews, crown rots and root rots
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