Digitalis purpurea Alba

Description

Digitalis purpurea ‘Alba’ – white foxglove

Botanical name: Digitalis purpurea ‘Alba’
Common names: Foxglove
Family: Plantaginaceae
Plant type: Biennial or short-lived perennial
Habit: Tall, upright, with flower spires
Pot size: 2–3 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 1.2–1.5m tall × 45cm spread
Foliage: Rosettes of soft, downy, green leaves; the flower spikes rise from these
Flowers: Tall, elegant spires of pure white tubular flowers, usually unspotted, in early to midsummer (June–July)
Scent: Not notably scented
Aspect / light: Partial shade to full sun
Soil: Moist but well-drained, humus-rich, fertile; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H5 (hardy, to about −15°C); USDA zones 4–8
Exposure: Sheltered or open
Native range: Garden form; the common foxglove is native to Europe including the UK
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Highly toxic — all parts are very poisonous if eaten, and the sap can irritate skin; keep well away from children and pets

Digitalis purpurea ‘Alba’ is an elegant white foxglove with tall spires of pure white tubular flowers in early summer. Enchanting for cottage and woodland-edge borders, lighting up shade and loved by bees.

GardenAdvice notes

One of the most romantic and architectural of cottage-garden plants, the foxglove sends up tall, stately spires densely hung with tubular, often beautifully spotted flowers in early to midsummer, giving wonderful vertical drama, especially in a partly shaded or woodland-edge border. It is a great favourite with bumblebees, which disappear right inside the flowers. It is usually biennial or short-lived, flowering and then setting seed, but self-seeds freely to keep itself going.

Growing & planting

Plant in autumn or spring in moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil in partial shade to full sun — it is happy in a little shade and excellent at a woodland edge or in a cottage border. Space about 45cm apart. Water while establishing.

Care & maintenance

It is biennial or short-lived; leave some spikes to set and shed seed if you want it to continue, or deadhead to prolong the plant and prevent excessive seeding. Water in dry spells. Cut down old growth in autumn. Wear gloves when handling, as all parts are toxic and the sap can irritate skin.

Propagation

• Seed: Sow seed in early summer for flowers the following year, or allow it to self-seed freely.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free. Powdery mildew and leaf spot can occur, and slugs may graze the rosettes. Otherwise easy and reliable.

Uses in the garden

Superb in cottage, mixed, woodland-edge and wildlife borders and in partial shade, where its tall spires bring vertical drama and an old-fashioned charm, and draw in bumblebees; lovely for cutting.

Wildlife value

Foxglove is a superb plant for pollinators, especially long-tongued bumblebees, which are strongly drawn to the tubular flowers and crawl right inside them.

Toxicity & safety

Foxglove is highly toxic — all parts are very poisonous if eaten and can affect the heart, and the sap can irritate skin. Keep it well away from children and pets, site it accordingly, and wear gloves when handling or cutting it.

GardenAdvice tip

The white foxglove is one of the most elegant of all cottage plants — tall, pure white spires that glow in a shady spot and light up a woodland edge at dusk. It’s biennial or short-lived but self-seeds freely; to keep the whites coming true, pull out any seedlings that show the purple leaf-stalk tint before they flower. Beautiful, but remember all parts are very poisonous.

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