Digitalis × valinii 'Harkstead Flame' (Illumination Series)

RHS Plant Profile

foxglove 'Harkstead Flame'

RHS

Synonyms

Digitalis 'Tomdigharpink', Digitalis × valinii 'Dg09-4', Digitalis × valinii [Illumination Flame]

Herbaceous Perennial

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A semi-evergreen perennial with dark green, broadly lance-shaped leaves forming a basal cluster. From summer into autumn, dark purple stems to 90cm tallbear reddish-magenta tubular flowers with orange-yellow speckled throats; this sterile hybrid does not produce seed but has a long flowering season

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or 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): H4

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: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Will grow in almost any soil or situation except very wet or very dry; ideal site is humus-rich soil in partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Flower borders and beds
Cut flowers

Pruning

Cut back the 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