Short descriptions of some of the species in the genus. Some species have images in the Foxglove Gallery, those with images are indicated with 3 red stars ***
Digitalis ciliata
10 - 30cm (4"- 1ft) tall 20 - 30 cm (8 - 12") spread
A small perennial from Georgia (Russia) and the North Caucasus.
Has ovate - oblong, mid-dark green, toothed leaves which can either be evergreen or die back to an overwintering bud. Bears small, very pale yellow flowers which are hairy, especially around the mouth (you have to look closely), widely spaced along and around the stem.
This is a native of forest edge and rocky places, they need a well-drained, moderately fertile soil in sun or partial shade. They may tolerate full sun in cooler climates. Protect from winter wet for best results.
Digitalis davisiana
60 - 90cm (2-3ft) tall 40 - 50 cm (16 - 19") spread
Short lived perennial from Turkey. Slim, lance shaped, lightly toothed leaves. Tall impressive spires of dark yellow, orange veined to buff coloured flowers.
Prefers well drained soil in sun or light shade.
Digitalis ferruginea - Rusty foxglove ***
1 - 1.5m (3-5ft) tall 40 - 50 cm (16 - 19") spread
A biennial foxglove from Southern Europe to North Africa.
Has deep dark green, lance shaped untoothed leaves which may be slightly hairy. Bears tall spires of orange brown flowers netted with dark reddish brown veins inside. Calyces appear as though margined with white.
Likes well drained but moist soil in sun or light shade.
Digitalis grandiflora - Yellow foxglove ***
1 (3ft) tall 40 - 50 cm (16 - 19") spread
A short lived perennial Foxglove from Europe to Siberia.
Has lance - oblong, toothed, veined, mid-deep green, often hairless leaves. Bears pale yellow with spotted/veined brown inside, tubular flowers 1-2 inches long.
Loves a moist but well-drained, fertile soil in partial shade but will stand full sun where the soil is constantly moist. Excellent light woodland plant. Dislikes too much winter wet or over dry soil in summer.
Digitalis laevigata - Grecian foxglove
1 (3ft) tall 40 - 50 cm (16 - 19") spread
Clump forming plant from the Balkan region. Hairless, mid-green, slim, lance shaped leaves which sports spires of small lipped flowers in the second year of sowing. The lower lip is white and hairy. A popular bee landing pad.
Tendancy to mildew.
Digitalis lanata - Woolly foxglove ***
60cm - 1m (2-3ft) tall 30cm (12") spread
A short live perennial Foxglove from Italy to Turkey.
Has deep green, hairless or slightly hairy, lance shaped leaves borne in basal rosettes. Bears spikes of cream/yellow tubular flowers, heavily veined purple or brown with a large white lip. The flower spike has leafy bracts.
Loves a well drained soil in sun or light shade.
Digitalis lutea subsp. australis ***
60cm - 1m (2-3ft) tall 30cm (12") spread
Small foxglove from Southern Italy. Mid-green lance shaped leaves are hairless. Produces several flower spikes of small yellow flowers and generally has more flowers per stem than D. lutea.
Short lived perennial and likes a woodland situation.
Digitalis obscura - Willow-leaved foxglove
30cm - 1.20m (1-4ft) tall 30cm (12") spread
Subshrub from Spain and very close to Digitalis relative Isoplexis. Flowers in its 2nd year with surprisingly dark orange flowers with deep red veins. Flowers last about one month and as with most Digitalis they produce a lot of seed.
Needs a very well drained soil to over winter and isn't fully hardy in the U.K. (especially where wet winters prevail) so winter protection may be needed.
Cuttings and seeds are the best forms of propagation and will germinate in 4-5 weeks. The seeds are small and require light to germinate so they are best surface sown and kept at a temperature of 65-75 degrees F.
It can be a prima donna to grow.
Digitalis parviflora ***
60cm (2ft) tall 30cm (12") spread
A very different foxglove from Northern Spain. Small plant with lance shaped/ sometimes slightly toothed leaves often with tiny white hairs. 2ft spires of tightly packed tiny flowers which can range from dark orange to deep brown, look very closely and you may see a slight bit of purple on the flower lip. Sometimes flowers all round the stem.
Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora
1 - 2m (3-6ft) tall 60cm (2ft) spread
An absolutely stunning natural form of Digitalis purpurea - Common Foxglove, often sold as Digitalis purpurea 'Alba'.
Has pure white, tubular flowers which may have just a faint, pale cream spotting inside.
Excellent light woodland or back of the border plant to light up a dull area.
Digitalis purpurea subsp. heywoodii ***
60cm - 90 (2-3ft) tall 45cm (18") spread
Often listed as D. purpurea 'Heywoodii' it's a form that may be found growing wild in southern Portugal.
It has very downy, silvery leaves and spikes of white, blushed pale pink flowers with delicately spotted throats. It's quite a variable plant in it's colour shading and leaf hairiness.
Prefers a slightly more well drained soil than the species and copes quite well with more sun too.
Digitalis sibirica ***
60cm - 75m (2 - 2.5ft) tall 30cm (12") spread
A dainty, evergreen perennial.
Has mid to deep green, lance-like leaves which are fringed with tiny white hairs. Bears small, tubular, pale yellow to almost pale green flowers.
Flowers in early to mid summer.
Loves a well drained but moist, slightly acidic soil in sun or light shade. Has done well under trees in containers here. Very like a small D. lutea, it may not be the most garden worth Foxglove available but it's a nice little plant all the same.
Digitalis thapsi ***
45cm - 60cm (1.5-2ft) tall 30cm (12") spread
A short lived perennial from Spain and Portugal.
Has rosettes of mid green, ovate or lace shaped leaves often covered in yellowish hairs (but not always). Bears small, pink, tubular flowers.
Loves a slightly moist but well-drained soil in sun or light shade.
Digitalis viridiflora
50cm - 80cm (20 - 32") tall 30cm (12") spread
Very similar to some of the other small pale yellow foxgloves and often you are sold one of the others labelled as D. viridiflora. The small yellow/green flowers have distinct veins which the other don't often have. They have downy-hairy leaves which are a slim lance shape.
This is a woodland plant from the Balkans to Turkey and flowers throughout summer.