Foxglove 'mertonensis Summer King' | Digitalis
The Highlights
- Towering stems of dusky pink bell-shaped flowers, speckled inside with mulberry purple and edged in white
- A semi-evergreen clump forming perennial which requires very little maintenance
- The perfect addition to a cottage garden border, for colour and height. Use as an accent plant or in groups of 3-5 plants
- Flowers in summer from June to August
- Grows to between 60-100cm
- This variety carries the RHS Plants for Pollinators designation - it's particularly loved by long-tongued bumblebees
- All parts are toxic if eaten - wear gloves and wash hands after gardening
The Highlights
- Towering stems of dusky pink bell-shaped flowers, speckled inside with mulberry purple and edged in white
- A semi-evergreen clump forming perennial which requires very little maintenance
- The perfect addition to a cottage garden border, for colour and height. Use as an accent plant or in groups of 3-5 plants
- Flowers in summer from June to August
- Grows to between 60-100cm
- This variety carries the RHS Plants for Pollinators designation - it's particularly loved by long-tongued bumblebees
- All parts are toxic if eaten - wear gloves and wash hands after gardening
Care Guide
Good pest and disease resistance
Digitalis have generally good pest and disease resistance but can have issues with aphids or powdery mildew. If you see aphids, pick them off by hand and spray the infected area with some soapy water. You can also plant a companion plant nearby such as Marigolds. These will attract predatory insects such as ladybirds. To prevent powdery mildews, you should space apart the plants adequately to prevent overcrowding and tight, humid conditions. Water at the base into the soil, not on the leaves, and try to prevent the water splashing off the soil and onto the leaves.
Full sun to partial shade
Foxgloves do equally well in sun or partial shade - ideally they should receive at least 4-6 hours of sunlight daily
Any moist, well-drained soil
Plant in any moist, well-drained soil. If your soil is particularly poor or clay heavy, add some garden compost with perlite to improve drainage.
Prune in autumn
Cut back the flower stems after the blooms have finished, and remove any dead leaves
For more care tips and ideas visit our Knowledge page
Planting Calendar
- Best time to plant
- Harvest
- Flower