Short descriptions of some of the hybrids and cultivars in the genus. Some hybrids and cultivars have images in the Foxglove Gallery, those with images are indicated with 3 red stars ***
Digitalis purpurea Camelot Series
1 - 1.2m (3 - 4ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
A recent introduction and the first F1 hybrid Digitalis.
First year flowering biennial if sown early enough and again in the second year. Bears cream, lavender, rose and white, spotted, outward facing flowers around most of the stem.
D. purpurea 'Campanulata'
1 - 2m (3-6ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
A peloric form of D. purpurea.
D. purpurea 'Chedglow'
A variety sporting variegated leaves and purple flowers. I've not seen it nor any other variegated D. purpurea but they apparently do occasionally sport variegated leaves and this is one of them :)
Digitalis purpurea Excelsior Group
1 - 2m (3-6ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
Biennial hybrids for the back of the border.
Has tall spikes of tubular flowers in a range of pastel shades with spotted throats. Unlike the species the flowers face outwards and are arranged all around the stem. Good cut flower.
Digitalis purpurea Foxy Group ***
45 - 60 cm (18" - 2ft) tall 30 - 45 cm (12" - 18") spread
Has spires of tubular pink, reddish pink, pale yellow or white flowers heavily spotted with maroon.
This group is favoured for it's ability to behave as an annual if sown early and it's dwarf habit.
Digitalis purpurea Glittering Prizes Group
1.2 - 2m (4 - 6ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
Has tall spires of large, tubular flowers ranging from mauve to pale cream and white, with brown/maroon spots in the throats.
Digitalis purpurea Giant Spotted Group
1.2 - 2m (4 - 6ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
Has tall spires of tubular flowers ranging from mauve to pale cream and white, with very heavy brown/red spots and mottling in the throats.
Digitalis purpurea Gloxinioides Group
2m+ (6ft+) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
Bears tall spires of large, open, wavy margined flowers spotted inside the throat and can range in colour from purple to pink to pale yellow.
D. purpurea 'Pam's Choice'
1 - 1.6m (3 - 5ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
Bears full spires of creamy white bells and a heavy reddish-burgandy spotting and mottling inside.
Digitalis purpurea 'Primrose Carousel' ***
60 - 80cm (24" - 32") tall 45cm (18") spread
A soft, pale lemon, creamy cultivar of Digitalis purpurea which flowers all around the stem. Introduced by Thompson & Morgan, first discovered by Miss Gage.
D. purpurea 'Saltwood Summer'
1 - 1.6m (3 - 5ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
Bears creamy white flowers speckled reddish brown which are deeply cut. I won't go quite so far as some and say they are orchid like.
Discovered growing around 1991-92 by Susan Scrivens in her garden at Saltwood and introduced by Hilliers Nurseries in 2002.
D. purpurea 'Snow Thimble'
1 - 1.6m (3 - 5ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
Bears a number of stems carrying pure white flowers.
Digitalis purpurea 'Suttons Apricot'
1 - 2m (3-6ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
A striking, tall, semi evergreen plant for the back of the border.
Has long spikes of pale pinkish/apricot coloured flowers. Good cut flower.
Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora 'Anne Redetzky' (PBR)
1 - 2m (3-6ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
This one has been around for a few years but doesn't seem to be widely grown. Has pure white, tubular flowers which are deeply cut, giving a shredded appearence.
D. purpurea subsp. heywoodii 'Silver Fox'
60cm (2ft) tall and 45cm (18") spread
Bears a number of spires carrying lavender pink flowers in contrast to it's silvery, hairy leaves.
Digitalis 'Glory of Roundway' ***
1 - 1.2m (3 - 4ft) tall 45cm (18") spread
A sterile hybrid perennial between D. lutea and D. x mertonensis.
Has rosettes of deep green, lance shaped leaves that are evergreen or semi-evergreen. Bears 3-4ft tall spires of slim, tubular flowers, blushed heavily with pink but pale yellow, spotted brown/purple inside.
Loves a well drained soil in light shade but will tolerate sunny positions well.
I've grown these a couple of times and while they are perennial, they will sometimes decide that one flowering is enough. This hybrid won't produce viable seeds so if you want to try and keep it, I heartily recommend you root some basal cuttings or rosettes!
Digitalis 'John Innes Tetra'
60cm - 1m (2 - 3ft) tall 45cm (18") spread
A hybrid perennial of Digitalis grandiflora and D. lanata.
Bears yellow, orange and brown, sunset coloured flowers similar in shape to those of D. grandiflora. Has deep green lance shaped leaves.
Digitalis x mertonensis
60cm - 1m (2 - 3ft) tall 45cm (18") spread
A hybrid perennial of D. grandiflora x D. purpurea.
Bears large pinky mauve flowers with a tinge of buff orange. Has evergreen, softly hairy leaves.
1 - 1.2m (3 - 4ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
A recent introduction and the first F1 hybrid Digitalis.
First year flowering biennial if sown early enough and again in the second year. Bears cream, lavender, rose and white, spotted, outward facing flowers around most of the stem.
D. purpurea 'Campanulata'
1 - 2m (3-6ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
A peloric form of D. purpurea.
D. purpurea 'Chedglow'
A variety sporting variegated leaves and purple flowers. I've not seen it nor any other variegated D. purpurea but they apparently do occasionally sport variegated leaves and this is one of them :)
Digitalis purpurea Excelsior Group
1 - 2m (3-6ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
Biennial hybrids for the back of the border.
Has tall spikes of tubular flowers in a range of pastel shades with spotted throats. Unlike the species the flowers face outwards and are arranged all around the stem. Good cut flower.
Digitalis purpurea Foxy Group ***
45 - 60 cm (18" - 2ft) tall 30 - 45 cm (12" - 18") spread
Has spires of tubular pink, reddish pink, pale yellow or white flowers heavily spotted with maroon.
This group is favoured for it's ability to behave as an annual if sown early and it's dwarf habit.
Digitalis purpurea Glittering Prizes Group
1.2 - 2m (4 - 6ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
Has tall spires of large, tubular flowers ranging from mauve to pale cream and white, with brown/maroon spots in the throats.
Digitalis purpurea Giant Spotted Group
1.2 - 2m (4 - 6ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
Has tall spires of tubular flowers ranging from mauve to pale cream and white, with very heavy brown/red spots and mottling in the throats.
Digitalis purpurea Gloxinioides Group
2m+ (6ft+) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
Bears tall spires of large, open, wavy margined flowers spotted inside the throat and can range in colour from purple to pink to pale yellow.
D. purpurea 'Pam's Choice'
1 - 1.6m (3 - 5ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
Bears full spires of creamy white bells and a heavy reddish-burgandy spotting and mottling inside.
Digitalis purpurea 'Primrose Carousel' ***
60 - 80cm (24" - 32") tall 45cm (18") spread
A soft, pale lemon, creamy cultivar of Digitalis purpurea which flowers all around the stem. Introduced by Thompson & Morgan, first discovered by Miss Gage.
D. purpurea 'Saltwood Summer'
1 - 1.6m (3 - 5ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
Bears creamy white flowers speckled reddish brown which are deeply cut. I won't go quite so far as some and say they are orchid like.
Discovered growing around 1991-92 by Susan Scrivens in her garden at Saltwood and introduced by Hilliers Nurseries in 2002.
D. purpurea 'Snow Thimble'
1 - 1.6m (3 - 5ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
Bears a number of stems carrying pure white flowers.
Digitalis purpurea 'Suttons Apricot'
1 - 2m (3-6ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
A striking, tall, semi evergreen plant for the back of the border.
Has long spikes of pale pinkish/apricot coloured flowers. Good cut flower.
Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora 'Anne Redetzky' (PBR)
1 - 2m (3-6ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
This one has been around for a few years but doesn't seem to be widely grown. Has pure white, tubular flowers which are deeply cut, giving a shredded appearence.
D. purpurea subsp. heywoodii 'Silver Fox'
60cm (2ft) tall and 45cm (18") spread
Bears a number of spires carrying lavender pink flowers in contrast to it's silvery, hairy leaves.
Digitalis 'Glory of Roundway' ***
1 - 1.2m (3 - 4ft) tall 45cm (18") spread
A sterile hybrid perennial between D. lutea and D. x mertonensis.
Has rosettes of deep green, lance shaped leaves that are evergreen or semi-evergreen. Bears 3-4ft tall spires of slim, tubular flowers, blushed heavily with pink but pale yellow, spotted brown/purple inside.
Loves a well drained soil in light shade but will tolerate sunny positions well.
I've grown these a couple of times and while they are perennial, they will sometimes decide that one flowering is enough. This hybrid won't produce viable seeds so if you want to try and keep it, I heartily recommend you root some basal cuttings or rosettes!
Digitalis 'John Innes Tetra'
60cm - 1m (2 - 3ft) tall 45cm (18") spread
A hybrid perennial of Digitalis grandiflora and D. lanata.
Bears yellow, orange and brown, sunset coloured flowers similar in shape to those of D. grandiflora. Has deep green lance shaped leaves.
Digitalis x mertonensis
60cm - 1m (2 - 3ft) tall 45cm (18") spread
A hybrid perennial of D. grandiflora x D. purpurea.
Bears large pinky mauve flowers with a tinge of buff orange. Has evergreen, softly hairy leaves.