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Digitalis x mertonensis 
Quantity in Basket: None
Code: DI28-A9
Price: $2.00
[Also sold under the name 'Summer King'] 'Strawberry Foxglove' or 'Merton's Foxglove' - D. grandiflora x D. purpurea.(dig-ee-TAH-liss :mer-ton-EN-sis) SCROPHULARIACEAE:
These plants are the result of an inter specific cross between two species made early in the 20th century and are clump growing perennials with glossy dark green leaves. Leaves are prominently veined and toothed. Leaves are 3 to 12 inches long and have lightly hair undersides. Flowers are pinkish buff or salmon pink or somewhat reddish pink (strawberry). Flowers are large and showy and stand out. Flowers are 2.5 inches long and are born in late spring and early summer. Blooming stems are up to three feet tall and plants grow 12' wide or so. Plants come true from seed and are of garden origin and have evergreen foliage. Grow in moist but well draining soils that are not to rich in part shade. Makes a great cut flower too. Plants are the result of a colchicine treatment in the mid twenties resulting in a tetraploidy hybrid species.
Zones 3-8. In zones 3 and 4 provide some dry winter cover. Dry well draining locations are best for over wintering. Protect against slugs, they make nice cut flowers. Like all of the Fox-gloves, the lust evergreen, velvety textured, dark green basal foliage should not be eaten in a salad because they have a number of chemicals in them that can harm you if ingested in large enough amounts. The plants are somewhat monocarpic (plants die after setting seed) and after blooming the main part of the plants most often die, but side stems can be removed from the plants and replanted for more plants next year or one can use a knife and make a few cuts down the crown and separate some of the side shoots from the blooming stems a they finish flowering.
300 seeds.