Collection of 3 Digitalis Digiplexis Illumination Hybrids

This trio of Digiplexis 'Illumination' brings together 3 versions of this amazing perennial plant that looks a lot like a foxglove with its huge clusters of tubular flowers. Obtained recently by crossing a purple foxglove from our woods and the foxglove from the Canary Islands (Isoplexis), the plants in this selection offer highly colourful flowers from spring to summer. The 'Flame' variety displays red-orange shades, 'Berry Canary' is rosy apricot, and the cultivar 'Raspberry' boasts raspberry-pink tones. Impressive, exotic, and flamboyant, these plants prefer moist but well-drained soil, in partial shade.

Digiplexis 'Illumination' belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. It is hardier than Isoplexis canariensis, but more vigorous, more long-lasting, more floriferous, and more colourful than a foxglove. It is a beautiful hybrid, obtained by the seed company Thompson and Morgan, from a foxglove and a Canary Islands Isoplexis. The mixing of these two species was made possible by their genetic proximity. It is a fast-growing perennial plant that can also be grown as an annual. The 'Flame' and 'Berry Canary' cultivars form a rosette with a diameter of 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in), while the 'Raspberry' variety forms a slightly smaller rosette. The plants have thick, slightly hairy, lanceolate leaves, which are dark green or bluish-green. The leaves are thinner in 'Raspberry', and are very shiny and evergreen. Smaller leaves also adorn the reddish-brown flower stem. The flowering period extends from May-June to October-November, without interruption. Hollow but sturdy stems emerge from the rosette to carry a wide and dense flower spike, composed of a multitude of open horizontal flowers, reaching a height of 80cm (32in) or even 1.2m (4ft). Each variety has brightly coloured flowers, visible from afar. Those of 'Flame' are outlined in shades of fuchsia and orange, revealing a yellow throat speckled with soft orange and bordered by bright pink. Those of 'Berry Canary' are a symphony of pink and orange, revealing a yellow throat speckled with brown and bordered by mandarin orange. 'Raspberry' offers a palette of bright pink, revealing a lighter throat, slightly speckled with orange and bordered by bright orange-pink. The flowering is nectar-rich and attractive to pollinators. This sterile variety does not exhaust itself by producing fruits, which allows it to bloom tirelessly.

Showing perfect performance in mild and rather cool climates, these Digiplexis are true border plants that tolerate competition from other roots quite well. In cool regions, they should be planted in sunny locations, while in warmer regions, they prefer partial shade. They can be planted at the base of hedges or shrub beds, where they will flower abundantly from spring to autumn. They pair well with the blue bells of campanulas or the unusual Clematis 'New Love', the flowers of columbines, centaureas, or the small purple stars of asters in autumn. These sumptuous varieties, with their exotic charm, can be enjoyed for a long time in a large pot near the house, to be stored during winter in cold climates.

Note: Please be aware that our plug plants are professional products intended for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them under shelter (conservatory, greenhouse, cold frame) at a temperature above 14°C (57.2°F) for a few weeks before placing them outdoors once the risk of frost has definitively passed.