Digitalis 'John Innes Tetra'

RHS Plant Profile
foxglove 'John Innes Tetra'

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foxglove 'John Innes Tetra' RHS

Synonyms

Digitalis (_lanata_ × _grandiflora_ 'John Innes Tetra')

Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial

A rosette-forming herbaceous perennial, 60cm high, with lance-shaped, dark green leaves, and spikes of soft coppery yellow flowers, spotted and flushed with bronze, from mid to late summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

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

Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing or South–facing or North–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)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Plantaginaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
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

Grow in moist but well-drained humus-rich soil in sun, and add organic mulch. See foxglove cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed, or by division, removing offsets, in spring; it will also self-seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required except deadheading the flowering stems if self-seeding is not wanted, and which may encourage stronger growth the following year

Pests

May be susceptible to caterpillars but generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to fungal leaf spots, powdery mildews, downy mildews, crown rots and root rots