Digitalis 'Arctic Fox Rose'

Digitalis 'Arctic Fox Rose': Soft Strength in a Blushing Spire

A gentle beauty with a resilient spirit, Digitalis 'Arctic Fox Rose' brings soft elegance and surprising durability to the garden. Blushed rose-pink flowers with creamy throats rise along strong stems, forming upright spires that bloom from early summer into autumn. Unlike traditional biennial foxgloves, this hybrid behaves as a true perennial, returning reliably year after year. Loved by pollinators and tolerant of a wide range of conditions, it brings the romance of cottage gardens into modern, low-maintenance landscapes.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 60–90 cm
• Spread: 30–45 cm, forming a tidy rosette with vertical flower stems
• Flower Colour: Blushed rose-pink with creamy interiors and speckled throats
• Flowering Period: Early summer to early autumn
• Foliage: Mid-green, lance-shaped basal leaves
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter; tolerates a range of conditions but avoids extremes of wet or dry

Uses and Benefits: Digitalis 'Arctic Fox Rose' is a strong choice for borders, cottage gardens, and wildlife-friendly plantings where vertical interest and long bloom time are desired. Its sterile nature prevents unwanted reseeding while encouraging continuous flowering. Excellent for pollinators—especially bees—it brings vertical form and soft colour to both formal and naturalistic designs.

Companion Plants: Pair Digitalis 'Arctic Fox Rose' with Geranium 'Rozanne', whose mounding habit and violet-blue blooms weave at the foxglove’s base, providing long-season colour and cohesion. Add Heuchera 'Cherry Truffles' for dramatic, deeply ruffled foliage that contrasts the foxglove’s pastel tones while thriving in partial sun. Finish the scene with Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster', whose upright, feathery plumes echo the foxglove’s vertical lines and add graceful movement and texture.

Care Instructions: Plant in full sun to partial shade with rich, moist, well-drained soil. Water regularly during dry periods to maintain consistent blooming. Remove spent flower spikes to encourage rebloom throughout the season. Mulch to retain moisture and protect the crown in winter. Divide clumps every few years in early spring if needed.

⚠️ Caution: Digitalis can irritate skin—handle with care! 🧤 Toxic if ingested—keep away from pets & children! 🐾🚸

History: Digitalis 'Arctic Fox Rose' is part of a groundbreaking breeding effort to develop perennial foxgloves with long bloom periods and enhanced cold hardiness. A sterile hybrid between Digitalis purpurea and other perennial species, it was developed by Walters Gardens to combine beauty, vigour, and reliability—bringing the elegance of the foxglove into gardens where biennials may be less welcome.

Final Thoughts: With its delicate colouring and extended bloom time, Digitalis 'Arctic Fox Rose' is a modern perennial foxglove that brings grace and pollinator-friendly performance to borders and beds. When combined with the cascading blooms of Geranium 'Rozanne', the rich foliage of Heuchera 'Cherry Truffles', and the vertical elegance of Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster', it creates a layered, long-season planting full of contrast, movement, and quiet strength. A soft-spoken powerhouse for gardeners who love beauty that lasts.