Hybrid Foxglove Illumination Raspberry

A hybrid of our native foxglove and the Canary Island foxglove, Digitalis x valinii Illumination Raspberry is a medium-sized, virtually evergreen, herbaceous perennial, with an upright, clump-forming, habit. The pointed, veined leaves, typical of foxgloves, are deep green, forming a basal rosette from which the flowering stems rise.  Spires of trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of raspberry-pink and apricot, with slight freckling inside, are borne all round the branched stems for a very long period, from June to September. The flowers are exceptionally attractive to bees, including honey-bees, and butterflies. As hybrid foxglove Illumination Raspberry is sterile, it blooms for months rather than the few weeks of species foxgloves – no incontinent seeding about, either! Not for the coldest gardens.

Site: Tolerates exposure
Soil: Any moist but well-drained soil, preferably humus-rich
Position: Best in partial shade; tolerates full sun
Season of interest: Early summer to mid-autumn
Hardiness: Borderline hardy
Height: 30” (75cm) Spread: 18” (45cm)