Re: digitalis grandiflora

In a message dated 8/9/02 9:20:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
Cersgarden@aol.com writes:

<< <<  It claims to be perennial, is it?  >> >>

Not always.  There is D. Lutea and D. obscura, both yellow and perennial but 
not as pretty or good looking in the garden as grandiflora.  Let at least one 
spike form mature seeds and scratch them in around the mother plant.  You 
should always have a some new ones coming along if you do that.  There are 
about a dozen others now in commerce so there is some fun trying new ones.  
None have the striking good looks of D. purpurea.   That one sold as 
mertonensis has never done much for me.  I can't remember seeing it bloom 
though it is sold as a true perennial.  Once you get D. purpurea started in 
your gardens, it is with you forever.   You can rougue out the colors you do 
not like and the blooming plants will in a few years be  the ones you want.  
I tend to keep the whites and deep pinks only.  Some will be a washed out 
color and you can prevent those from shedding seed. 

Spider mites love Digitalis and account for discoloration on the leaves.  
They bloom in spite of them and do not seem to need to be treated.

We have  thousands of foxgloves sprouting right now.  This germination will 
be produce a very good sized rosette by late fall, stay green all winter and 
bloom next summer.
The mild winter last year has produced a huge amount of self seeded 
germination this summer.  

Claire Peplowski
NYS z4 

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