Digitalis purpurea

‘Pink Gin’

PINK GIN TOWER FOXGLOVES

No Tas.

Digitalis purpurea ‘Pink Gin’
PINK GIN TOWER FOXGLOVES

Digitalis purpurea ‘Pink Gin’ is perfect shell pink, all girly and pretty.
Not permitted for entry to Tasmania.

Towers of prettiest pink shades

The colouring of ‘Pink Gin’ Foxgloves is exceptionally beautiful – There are no other Foxgloves like them for delicate colour.

Spires of shell pink

‘Pink Gin’ has large bells of soft shell pink, lightly spotted (not boldly blotched) inside.

Buds gently blushed with apricot

With the pink buds at the top of the spires gently blushed with apricot.

With a skirt of palest pink & white bells

And the fully open bells at the base of the spires transitioning in ever softer shades of pink – until at the very bottom they become fully white.

Large bells closely packed up tall spires

The big blooms are closely packed up exceptionally tall flower spires – soaring 90cm-1.5m tall (depending on conditions).
So a stand of Digitalis purpurea ‘Pink Gin’ in full bloom is a vision of softest shell pink.

Long blooming with towers & side spikes of flowers

‘Pink Gin’ is long blooming – beginning in mid spring with the first flower towers, and then continuing on well into summer with multiple side spikes.
Each plant will produce up to 10 spires over the spring- summer season.

Extended blooming

Plus blooming can be extended mightily if you prevent the plants from going to seed.
So cut off flower stems as they finish, or harvest them for floristry, and thus promote even more side spikes of bloom.

Low rosette of evergreen foliage

Plants of  Digitalis purpurea ‘Pink Gin’ form a low rosette of handsome, furry leaves and the clump remains evergreen throughout the years, producing each year (unless you let it go to seed – then don’t worry – they will happily self sow the next generation for you).

Excellent spires for florists

The towering flower stems of  ‘Pink Gin’ make excellent vase blooms for florists.
Especially for majestic arrangements.
And what self-respecting florist could resist such colouring.

Cutting for best vase life

So for best vase life – the stems should be cut when about 1/3 of the bells have opened at the base of the spire.
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 ‘Pink Gin’ bells, using the dainty spots as landing lights in the flower throats.

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

Rabbits and deer give clumps of Digitalis purpurea ‘Pink Gin’ 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 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 let’s hope the monks always got their herbal dosage rate right centuries ago !!!
Though today Foxgloves are treasured only for their exceptional flower colours, and tall spires.
And we safely leave the heart medications to chemists.

Hardy & healthy in a wide range of conditions

Plant Digitalis purpurea ‘Pink Gin’ 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 ‘Pink Gin’ Foxgloves.
The only potential work is to cut back spent flower stems to encourage more side spikes to develop through the season.

Evergreen plant

Flower spires are 90 – 150cm. High approx. soaring above an evergreen foliage clump 45-60cm. Wide approx.
Digitalis purpurea ‘Pink Gin’ can be grown as a self-sowing biennial, or as a longer lived perennial.

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

Sow Digitalis purpurea ‘Pink Gin’ 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 as this will dry the seeds out and stop germination).
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.
(Make sure you remove the cover as soon as sprouting commences).

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

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