Digitalis obscura
sunset foxglove
A perennial subshrub with lance-shaped to linear, entirely hairless, grey-green leaves, 8-15cm long. Racemes of rust-brown to yellow or orange-yellow flowers, 2-3cm long with red veins and spotting inside, are produced from late spring to midsummer
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 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 shade
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical 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
Correct
- Plant range
- Spain
How to grow
Cultivation
Will grow in almost any soil or situation except very wet or very dry; ideal site is a sheltered, warm site with humus-rich soil in partial shade. A perennial but often treated as a biennial. See foxglove cultivation for further advice
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame in late spring or propagate by division in early spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Wildlife gardens
- Coastal
- Gravel garden
- Mediterranean climate plants
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
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
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