Digitalis isabelliana
Spanish foxglove
Overview
Digitalis isabelliana is a short-lived evergreen perennial or subshrub in the plantain family, growing roughly 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) tall and 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) wide. It forms a woody-based clump of narrow, smooth-edged to slightly toothed leaves, more leathery and willow-like than the soft, broad leaves of the common foxglove D. purpurea. In summer it produces upright stems bearing one-sided spikes of tubular flowers about 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) long, in shades of orange, rusty-brown, and yellow, often netted with darker veining inside the throat. Bees enter the flower tubes to reach the nectar. This species belongs to a group of Iberian foxgloves adapted to dry, rocky ground, and it tolerates more heat and drought than the woodland D. purpurea. All parts contain cardiac glycosides and are toxic if eaten. One limitation is that it is short-lived and frost-sensitive in cold-winter climates, where it is grown as a tender perennial or replaced from seed or cuttings.
Native Range
Digitalis isabelliana is native to southeastern Spain, where it grows on dry, rocky slopes and limestone outcrops in scrub and open woodland. It belongs to a group of foxgloves of the western Mediterranean adapted to hot, dry, well-drained sites.Suggested Uses
Used in gravel gardens, dry sunny borders, raised beds, and Mediterranean-style plantings, and in containers in colder regions. The warm-toned flowers combine with grasses and other drought-tolerant perennials. It draws bees through summer.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 2'
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs through summer, mainly June to August. Upright stems carry one-sided spikes of tubular orange to rusty-brown flowers that open from the base upward. Removing spent spikes can prompt smaller secondary stems later in the season.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Orange, rusty-brown, and yellowFoliage Description
Dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-9 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Digitalis isabelliana in full sun to light shade in gritty, sharply drained soil, including poor and limy ground. Sharp drainage is the main requirement, as the roots rot in wet winter soil. Water during establishment, then sparingly, as the plant is drought-tolerant once settled. A neutral to alkaline pH of 6.5 to 8.0 suits it, and rich feeding is not needed. In cold-winter regions, a grit mulch over the crown or growing the plant in containers moved under cover reduces winter losses. Replacements are raised from seed or cuttings, as the plant is short-lived.Pruning
Cut spent flower spikes back after bloom to tidy the plant and limit self-seeding, or leave a few to ripen seed. Remove dead and frost-damaged shoots in spring as new growth begins. Light trimming keeps the woody base compact.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summerfall
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons