Daily Archive: January 23, 2017

Foxglove Dalmation Mixed – Digitalis

Six out of six of the Foxglove seedlings made it through the Winter. I have potted them on into 7″ ceramic pots and the roots when I lifted them were huge.

Pot up digitalis plants and grow them on in frost free conditions for transplanting outdoors later on. When plants are well grown and all risk of frost has passed, acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over a period of 7 to 10 days, before planting them in borders and containers in sun or partial shade. Although foxgloves prefer a fertile, moist soil, they will happily tolerate almost any soil except those that are excessively dry or waterlogged.

297629_STANDARD___20131217_4.jpgFoxglove, also called Digitalis purpurea, is a common biennial garden plant that contains digitoxin, digoxin, and other cardiac glycosides.  These are chemicals that affect the heart.  Digitalis is poisonous; it can be fatal even in small doses. It was the original source of the drug called digitalis.

Digitalis ‘Dalmatian Mixed’ looks magnificent in cottage gardens and woodland borders but thanks to their uniform branching habit, these statuesque foxgloves make fabulous annual bedding too. These short lived perennials will happily seed about to create dramatic drifts and attract wildlife to their nectar rich flowers. Height 20″. Information from T&M.

Delphinium Magic Fountain and Pacific Giant

Today, 23rd January, I have potted on the Delphinium Magic Fountain seedlings that have been overwintering on the window ledge. Five out of the six survived and I am hopeful that they will grow on until I can get them into the garden after the last frost. I can’t wait to see what colour they are. 29th April – I have lost the Magic Fountain to frost. I shall replace them on Sunday with a plant from the garden centre. I shall endeavour to find the same variety as they look lovely. Well, I popped to get some brassica seedlings this afternoon and spotted a Delphinium Magic Fountain White just sitting there waiting for me. It’s now sitting on my desk where it will be nurtured until all risk of frost is gone.

imagesDelphinium Magic Fountain is a lovely delphinium with a smaller more compact stature than some of the taller delphiniums. It is ideal for where space is at a premium, grows to a height of around 90cm. Because of its short stature and healthy thick stems, it does not require staking. It produces sturdy flower spikes throughout the summer. Blooming from June to September it is attractive to bees and is a wonderful cut flower.

Delphinium Pacific Giant.  A distinguished delphinium producing strong spikes of semi-double blooms in a dreamy blend of pink, lilac, purple, violet-blue, sky-blue and white. Delphinium Pacific Giants are excellent for cutting and add structure and presence to the back of cottage garden perennial borders.

The Pacific Giant were potted on at the same time as the Magic Fountain but two of these have survived the frost. The lesson here is that out of twelve seedling I only have two strong plants so I put them out to soon. They were very cheap though so I suppose you get what you pay for. Delphiniums are self seeding so I look forward to collecting my own seed eventually.

Delphinium Cultorum Magic Fountain White – bought today from Webbs of Wollaston for £2.00.