Digitalis purpurea

‘Berggold’

RED FOXGLOVES

No Tas.

Digitalis purpurea ‘Berggold’
RED FOXGLOVES

Digitalis purpurea ‘Berrgold’ is an exciting colour in Foxgloves.
Not permitted for entry to Tasmania.

Towers of plush red-purple – like crushed berries

The colour of ‘Berggold’ Red Foxgloves is luscious – deep, plush red berry-purple.
‘Berggold’ is the closest to red a Foxglove can get, like the colour of crushed berry juice.
With deep blackberry juice coloured spots swimming in cream.

Soaring spires of deep rich berry colour 

And the big blooms are close packed up exceptionally tall flower spires – soaring up to 1.5m tall.
So Digitalis purpurea ‘Berrgold’ is an imposing sight indeed in full bloom.

Long blooming with towers & side spikes of flowers

‘Berggold’ is long blooming – beginning in mid spring with the first flower towers, and then continuing on well into summer with multiple side spikes.
Plus blooming can be extended mightily if you prevent it from going to seed.
So cut off flower stems as they finish, and thus promote even more side spikes of bloom.

Low rosette of evergreen foliage

Plants of  Digitalis purpurea ‘Berrgold’ form a low rosette of handsome, furry leaves and the clump remains evergreen throughout the years.

Can be kept as a perennial permanent clump

‘Berggold’ Red Foxgloves can be kept as perennial, evergreen clumps – as a permanent feature of your garden design over many years – simply by preventing them from going off to seed.
Or you can leave one plant go to seed and it will produce a crop of baby self-sown ‘Berggold’ seedlings for use in different places and future years.

Excellent spires for florists

The towering flower stems of Digitalis purpurea ‘Berggold’ make excellent vase blooms for florists.
Especially for majestic arrangements.

Cutting for best vase life

So for best vase life – the stems should be cut when about 1/3 of the bells have opened.
Then they will continue to open up the stem whilst in the vase.

Bees & birds are in bliss

Our native honey-eating birds are in a frenzy of nectar gathering, while the bees and pollinating butterflies blissfully forage amongst the ‘Berggold’ bells, using the berry drop spots as landing lights.

While rabbits & deer won’t touch with a barge pole

Rabbits and deer give clumps of Digitalis purpurea ‘Berggold’ a wide berth.
They are perfectly aware that eating Foxgloves is toxic.
Though of course when used correctly, Foxglove chemical compounds are the basis of our modern, life-saving heart medications.

Ancient historic treasure

Digitalis purpurea ‘Berggold’ is actually a very ancient strain of Foxgloves.
It was treasured by medieval Monks in their “Physic” Gardens for use as herbal medicine.
As it has a particularly high concentration of cardiac glycosides, from which many of our modern heart medicines are derived.
So lets hope the monks always got their herbal dosage rate right centuries ago !!!
Though today ‘Berggold’ Red Foxgloves are treasured only for their exceptional richly and unusually coloured flowers, and tall spires.
And we safely leave the heart medications to chemists.

Hardy & healthy in a wide range of conditions

Plant Digitalis purpurea ‘Berggold’ in either shaded or sunny sites.

Water-wise

Once established the clumps are not water-hungry, and can tolerate some periods of dry between drinks.

Thrive in a wide range of soils

And tolerate a wide range of soil conditions and soil pH, from acid to alkaline.
They do not need rich going.

Low maintenance plants

Things rarely if ever go wrong with ‘Berggold’ Red Foxglove plants.
The only potential work is to cut back spent flower stems to encourage more side spikes to develop through the season.

Flower spires are 90 – 150cm. High approx. soaring above an evergreen foliage clump 45-60cm. Wide approx.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY
Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Sow Digitalis purpurea ‘Berggold’ seeds outdoors in spring by scattering directly in the garden.
OR
Sow indoors at any time, whenever suitable temperatures are available (15-20°C.) for maximum germination rate.

Sow indoors for quick & early plants: First sow the Digitalis seeds in  a punnet/pots on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
But do not cover with mix, as these seeds need light to germinate.

Then thoroughly moisten the mix by standing the sown punnet in a shallow water bath.
And allowing the moisture to percolate to the surface from below.

Now place the punnet in a warm, well-lit  place (but not in any direct sunlight).
You can use a heat mat if you have one, but it is not essential, as these seeds are willing germinators.

Continue to keep consistently moist by misting regularly from a spray water bottle.
And covering the punnet with a clear plastic lid / bag helps to retain consistent moisture.

Temperatures of 15-20°C. are ideal for rapid and maximum germination.

Seeds germinate in 14 to 21 days approx.

Then pot on the seedlings as soon as the first set of true leaves develop – to harden off and mature. Before finally planting out in the garden.

Seed Count: 500+ seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve)

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