Digitalis purpurea 'Giant Shirley'
Common Name: Common Foxglove
A mixed palette of flower colors including white, light pink, deep rose, fuchsia, and yellow, all with dark purple spots inside, makes up the 'Giant Shirley' strain. These flowers appear in pendulous clusters on one-sided racemes and contain a sweet nectar that hummingbirds find irresistible. Though the flower spikes will typically reach heights of 3'-4', they have been known to grow as tall as 8'-9'.
Digitalis forms large rosettes of downy, green, oblong leaves from which numerous flower spikes emerge. This plant looks especially nice when planted along fences, at the wood's edge, or in large containers.
Though this cultivar is actually a biennial, it will self-seed if the spent flowers are not removed and plantlets will appear around the parent, eventually taking its place. However, if this plant is deadheaded, there is a much greater chance of it reblooming.
