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Digitalis canariensis (Canary Island Foxglove) - A short-lived shrub from Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Growing to 4-5 feet tall by nearly as wide with serrated, dark green foliage, this plant blooms in the late spring and summer months with flattened trumpet-shaped apricot-colored flowers in dense terminal clusters that rise above the foliage.
This plant prefers sun or part shade and regular watering. It is listed as frost tender although we have found it tolerant of winter temperatures down to 28-29 F. Most people have difficulty keeping this plant in the garden more than 3 years but it is so attractive it may be worth replanting regularly.
Digitalis canariensis is endemic to the islands of Tenerife, La Gomera and La Palma in the Canary Island archipelago, where it grows in laurel forests. The most recent DNA work conducted on this group in 2004 (Brauchler, C., H. Meimberg and G. Heubl "Molecular phylogeny of the genera Digitalis L. and Isoplexis (Lindley) Loudon (Veronicaceae) based on ITS- and trnL-F sequences") puts Isoplexis, the previous genus this plant was placed in, within the genus Digitalis. Also confusing is a reorganization of the traditional family relationships as is was originally put into the Figwort family, the Scrophulariaceae, but now has been placed with many other familiar plant into the enlarged Plantain family, the Plantaginaceae. The debate continues on this and these may someday all be in the Antirrhinaceae or Veronicaceae. Both the common and botanical name for the genus hails from the shape the flowers. Digitalis is from the Latin word 'digit' meaning "finger" with the suffix 'alis' "pertaining to" or "like" in reference to the finger-like tubular flowers. The original common name was reportedly "Folksglove" meaning resembling the finger of a glove.
We grew this interesting plant from the year 2000 until 2007 and also grew the hybrid of it called Digitalis 'Illumination Flame'. Both are attractive but short lived plants.
This information about Digitalis canariensis displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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