Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora
foxglove
- Position: partial shade
- Soil: humus-rich soil
- Rate of growth: average to fast
- Flowering period: June to July
- Hardiness: fully hardy
This elegant foxglove produces stately spires of of white, tubular flowers in June and July held above rosettes of large, hairy, dark green leaves. This pretty white foxglove is perfect for lighting up a shady border or for dotting through a mixed border among evergreen shrubs. Although it is a short-lived plant, given favourable conditions it will self-seed freely. All parts of the plant may cause severe discomfort if ingested and contact with the foliage may irritate skin. - Garden care:Ensure that the soil is kept moist in summer. After flowering, cut back the flowered spikes to encourage more sideshoots. Cut down to the ground after flowering. Apply a generous 5-7 cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted organic matter around the plant in early spring
These plants are mainly biennial, although if happy they will produce plenty of new sideshoots and self-seed freely.
- CAUTION toxic if eaten
Hosta 'Francee' (fortunei)
plantain lily
Olive-green leaves with smart white margins
Polystichum setiferum
soft shield fern
A large, evergreen fern
Geranium phaeum 'Album'
dusky cranesbill
Small, white nodding flowers. Will thrive in shade
Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'Alba'
bleeding heart (syn. Dicentra spectabilis Alba)
Arching sprays of delicate, heart-shaped white flowers
How to get more flowers
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Deadheading will prevent them setting seed and so use their energy producing a further flush of blooms later on. Plants that respond well to deadheading include annuals such as Ageratum, Alyssum, Antirrhinum, Calendula, Centaurea, Cosmos, Dahlia, foxglove, Californian poppy, sweet...
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The pure-white form is also dappled with pinks of every shade inside the thimble - this enables it to mix with roses and other foxgloves
Val Bourne - Garden Writer