Digitalis obscura 'Dusky Maid'

RHS Plant Profile

foxglove 'Dusky Maid'

Herbaceous Perennial Alpine Rockery

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
1 Suppliers

A semi-evergreen perennial, to around 60cm high, with a woody base and narrowly linear, grey-green leaves. Upright spikes bearing nodding, tubular to bell-shaped flowers, in shades of red, burnt orange and golden yellow, are produced from spring to late summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H3
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Plantaginaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright
Potentially harmful: TOXIC if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling TOXIC to pets - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
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: Not established

How to Grow

Cultivation

Prefers a sunny, well drained site; perfect for a rockery or alpine house. Needs protection from hard frosts and excess winter wet. See foxglove cultivation for more detailed advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown in pots in a cold frame in late spring, or by division in early spring. Plants grown from seed may vary

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead to encourage more flowers (unless seeds are required)

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, leaf and bud eelworms, slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, downy mildews and leaf spot