Digitalis x mertonensis ‘Summer King’ (Strawberry Foxglove)

Digitalis x mertonensis ‘Summer King’ (Strawberry Foxglove) is a stately herbaceous perennial or biennial boasting upright spires of dangling, crushed strawberry-pink, bell-shaped flowers with maroon spotted throats. Blooming profusely in late spring to early summer, the flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, which hover near the tubular blossoms. Compact, the plant forms a low rosette of ovate to lance-shaped, toothed, glossy green leaves in the first year, bursting into flower the second spring. Showy even when not in bloom, thanks to its foliage that always looks fresh and catches the eyes of the passers-by. Excellent for a mixed bed or an open woodland garden.

• Grows up to 2-3 ft. tall (75-105 cm) and 20-24 in. wide (50-60 cm).
• Performs best in full sun or light dappled shade in humus-rich, moist, well-drained soils. Deer, rabbit tolerant.
• Easy to grow, this Foxglove is a welcomed addition to beds and borders, cottage gardens or city gardens. For best visual impact, plant Floxgloves in groups of 3 to 4 plants.
• Propagate by seed, or by division, removing offsets, in spring; it will also self-seed but may not come true unless plants have been grown in isolation.
• Keep an eye out for aphids, leaf and bud eelworm, leaf spots, powdery mildew, downy mildew, crown rot and root rot.
• Highly toxic by ingestion. Wear gloves and wash hands after handling.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses, toxic to humans.