Digitalis purpurea 'F1 Dottie Purple'

Digitalis ‘F1 Dottie Purple’ is an outstanding modern colour in the series. A new a super-fast, first year flowering perennial, so there’s no need to wait until the second year for the flowers of this Foxglove. 'Dottie' produces flowers just 20 to 24 weeks from sowing. The unique 'Purple' have deep purple tubular flowers with contrasting dark speckling.

The plants grow quickly to around 60 to 75cm tall and are more compact at flowering than other F1 series. Their compact growth means that the plants can very quickly be flowered in their pots. They can be grown cool or can be overwintered as normal. Sow January to May for flowers May to July.
‘F1 Dottie’ is more compact and tidier than other varieties, which makes it a well-behaved border plant, plus it grows gloriously in pots. The plants quickly fill larger, 15 to 25cm pots with ease
The plants initially form rosettes of hairy lance shaped leaves followed by large spikes with funnel shaped blooms. The showy spikes carry big blooms and are quickly followed by secondary spikes that provide numerous high quality stems for a flower-packed display.

Digitalis purpurea 'F1 Dottie' will flower the first year from an early indoor sowing. These first year flowering types lend them selves to succession planting. Sow in late summer to autumn for early spring blooms, or sow early indoors in spring for early summer blooms. Sown in spring, flowering begins in May and continues through the summer months.

Sowing: Sow indoors: March to May or Sow directly outdoors in May to June or September to October
Sow seeds on the surface of a peaty soil. Do not cover or bury seeds as the seed needs light to germinate, just press seeds lightly into the earth. Keep seed in constant moisture (not wet) they will usually germinate in 2 to 4 weeks at around 20°C (68°F).

Sowing Indoors:
Sow in March to May, 10 to 12 weeks before last frost. Sow seed thinly in trays of compost and place in a cold frame or greenhouse. Once germination occurs keep in cooler conditions. Prick out each seedling as it becomes large enough to handle, transplant into 7.5cm (3in) pots or trays to grow on. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10 to 15 days before planting out once all risk of frost has gone. Transplant to the flowering position planting 30cm (12in) apart.

Sowing Direct:
Sow in May to June or September to October directly in a well prepared seedbed. Sow seed very thinly in drills 30cm (12in) apart. Firm down gently. Keep the plants moist and free of weeds. Thin out the seedlings to 15cm (6in) apart when large enough to handle.

Cultivation:
Foxgloves are biennial which means that plants establish and grow leaves in the first year, it will send up large spikes, then flower and produce seeds in the second.
As a rule, they are hardy plants and can cope with any soil unless it is very wet or very dry. They are fairly disease resistant, although the leaves may suffer slightly from powdery mildew if the summer is hot and humid. If you cut the stalk down before it goes to seed, it will generally rebloom and, if you wish, you can reseed from the second showing.
Once established, foxgloves need very little attention. If your site is windy the tall central stem might need staking, but if you remove that one as a cut flower the next stems will be shorter and sturdier.
Foxgloves are are multi-stemmed plants that keep producing after cutting the central stem, so do not need pinching out. Take care of the plants with watering and feeding, and they will produce all summer long, even through heat and humidity.

Cut Flowers:
As well as looking majestic in the garden, foxglove spires also make excellent cut flowers. They are a key bloom for wedding floral designs, adding a touch of whimsical romance and a strong visual line to bouquets.
When the plants first come into bloom there will be a central stem from which each of the flowers open from the bottom upwards. this can be left in situ or cut for the vase. Once the central stem is cut back, the plant produces six to eight smaller side shoots, which are perfect for mixed bouquets.
Harvest when a third of the flowers on the spire are open, the remainder will open in the vase, and sear the ends in boiling water for a few seconds before putting them in the vase.
Foxglove, like many spike flowers, are sensitive to ethylene gas, so keep them away from ripening fruit and vegetables. They tend to last about 5 to 7 days in an arrangement. Changing the water in the vase really helps extend their life.

Seed Saving:
Cover the flowerspikes with paper bags (such as those used by bakers to wrap baguettes) to collect the seeds. When the seedheads have dried, shake them to remove the seed, they can be sown right away or stored for future use. Simply scatter them where you want them to grow.
Self-sown seedlings producing different shifting, untutored patterns of flowers each year, they can be easily transplanted to the location you want them to bloom. They are best transplanted when the leaves are about 10cm long. Make sure the newly moved plants are watered very well to help them establish.
The parents of Digitalis purpurea will cross, leading to eventual reversion to the wild form, so pull out and compost any seedling with a purple flower stem if you want to keep to the pure white or more unusual coloured forms.

Caution:
Digitalis is a source of digitalin used in cardiac medicine, it slows the heart. The whole foxglove plant is toxic, no part of the plant is edible, if eaten it will cause severe discomfort, in a child or small animal it potentially could cause death. Fortunately it tastes very bitter and causes irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth, actually causing pain and swelling. It also causes diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, so if it does get in, it soon comes out!
Because of these factors, it is not really a problem for wildlife, human or otherwise. However if you ever find a child who has been around this plant with symptoms of oral irritation, grab a stem or two and get to the emergency room! Wear gloves when handling plants or seeds, plant only where children or animals will not have access. Remember never ever use foxglove on cakes or other edibles.

Plant Uses:
Shade/Woodland Garden. Cottage/Informal Garden, Cut Flower Arranging, Flowers Borders and Beds, Wildflower Gardens or Wildlife Gardens.

Other Uses:
If foxgloves are grown near most plants they will stimulate growth and help to resist disease and if grown near apples, potatoes and tomatoes their storage qualities will he greatly improved.
Foxgloves in a flower arrangement make all the other flowers last longer - if you do not want the actual flowers in the vase make some foxglove tea from the stems or blossoms and add to the water.

Origin:
Digitalis originate from parts of Europe, Asia and north-west Africa. They come in a variety of shapes, colours and sizes and range in height from 30cm (12in) tall to whoppers soaring above 7ft. There are 25 species and distinct geographic or varietal forms found throughout Central and Southern Europe.
The genus Digitalis was traditionally placed in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, but phylogenetic research led taxonomists to move it to the Veronicaceae in 2001. More recent phylogenetic work has placed it in the much enlarged family Plantaginaceae.

Nomenclature:
The name Digitalis is a latinisation of the German name 'fingernut' from the Latin digitus meaning 'a finger'. The flower resembles the finger of a glove.
The species epitaph purpurea was adapted by Linnaeus two centuries later.
The common name of Foxglove comes not from foxes, but from the phrase 'folks' gloves' because it was thought that the flowers were used as gloves by fairy folk. Another common name is “Fairy Thimbles”

Folklore & Legend:
The flower meaning is insincerity – Folklore tells that bad fairies gave the flowers to the fox to put on his feet to soften his steps whilst hunting ! The foxglove was believed to keep evil at bay if grown in the garden, but it was considered unlucky to bring the blooms inside.