Digitalis purpurea

‘Gloxiniaeflora’

GLOXINIA FOXGLOVES

No Tas.

Digitalis purpurea ‘Gloxiniaeflora’
GLOXINIA FOXGLOVE

Digitalis purpurea ‘Gloxiniaeflora’ has spectacularly large baggy bells on impressive spires.
Otherwise it is just as hardy and easy to grow in the garden, and just as quick and easy to raise from seed, as all the other old-fashioned Foxgloves.
Not permitted for entry to Tasmania.

Spectacularly large baggy bells 

‘Gloxiniaeflora’ bears close packed spires of the biggest, baggiest, flaring bells you can imagine.
Rather like a Gloxinia flower, hence the name.

Looking out boldly at rather than shyly drooping

Instead of the normal slender Foxglove trumpets, it has wide open cups, proudly displaying large coloured dots.
And they look out boldly at you, rather than coyly drooping.

Close packed up tall spires

The flower spires are closely packed with the big baggy cups, and tower up to 1.5m. High.
And the flowewrs are packed all the way round the spire, not just on one side.
So Digitalis purpurea ‘Gloxiniaeflora’ really is one of the most spectacular of all Foxgloves.
Flowering begins in spring and goes into the summer months.

Wonderful tall statement, rarely requires staking & great cut

And the impressive spires also make excellent cut flowers (but get out your biggest best vase).

Beautiful range of old-fashioned Foxy colours

Digitalis purpurea ‘Gloxiniaeflora’ comes in a range of soft, old-fashioned Foxy colours.
From soft pink, to rose pink; white to deep purple.
But each flaring cup of a bloom is heavily spotted inside with large dots of burgundy, crimson or chocolate.
They really are very eye-catching.

Thanks to the Rev. H. Wilks of Shirley fame

Saints of gardening please bless the Rev. H. Wilks – vicar at Shirley near London in the 1880’s.
The Rev. gentleman was a very keen plant breeder and responsible for giving us the ever popular Shirley Poppies, as well as this spectacular strain of Foxgloves.

Perfect under trees & shrubs or at the back

‘Gloxiniaeflora’ Foxgloves enjoy Full Sun to Shade, in well drained soil.
These beauties are very showy in drifts under trees and shrubs.
And will obligingly form a natural drift for you by self-seeding each year – so leave a few spires standing to go to seed each season.
Or cut them down when the seed pods have dried and lay them on the ground where you want your drift.

Excellent spires for florists

The flower stems of Digitalis ‘Gloxiniaeflora’ make excellent vase flowers for florists.
Especially with their very showy flowers.
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 in the vase.

Foxgloves as florist’s preservative

Stems of Foxgloves in a vase act as a natural preservative and much extend the life and freshness of all the flowers in the vase.
Old-fashioned florists used to make a tea by soaking Foxglove leaves and use this in the vase water, for when flowers were not available.

Foxgloves as a garden tonic & companion plants

Foxgloves also act as a tonic in the garden and are valued as companion plants to improve the health and disease resistance of other plants nearby.
They are traditional companion plants for potatoes, tomatoes and apple trees, as they are said to improve the keeping qualities of those fruit.

Bees & birds are in bliss

Our native honey-eating birds are in a bliss of summer nectar gathering, while the bees and pollinating butterflies forage amongst the bells for weeks.

Rabbit & deer resistant

Happily rabbits and deer avoid Foxgloves, as they seem to be able to smell their medicinal properties.

Plant in either shaded or sunny sites.
They are very happy decorating shaded sites under trees and shrubs, and are reasonably tolerant of the drier conditions in competition with tree roots.

Big, baggy showy flowers packed on spectacular spires 1.5m High x 60cm. Wide evergreen foliage clump.
Self sowing biennial.

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

Digitalis purpurea ‘Gloxiniaeflora’ seeds can be scattered directly in the garden in early spring to germinate naturally / or for germination of maximum quantity, then sow indoors at any time.

Indoors for early & quick plants: Sow Digitalis seeds on surface of good quality compost or seed raising mix at any time.
But do not cover with compost as seed requires light to germinate.

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

Now place in a warm, well-lit  place (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.
And cover with a plastic lid to retain moisture.

We recommend germinating at 15-20 degrees C.

Continue to keep moist at all times by misting from a spray water bottle, but do not saturate.

Germination occurs in 14 to 21 days approx.

Pot on seedlings 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).

A little history

Digitalis purpurea is a source of the drug digitalin, used today in cardiac medicine (in synthetic form now for accuracy).
But the plant itself was used as medicine to treat cardio-vascular diseases by traditional herbalists, although judging the dose was a critical issue.
Foxgloves are of course toxic if eaten.
But fortunately they are very bitter and burn the mouth – so getting it down is not that easy.
Rabbits, deer and possums seem to know.

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