Willow-leaved Foxglove is a Spanish native shrubby perennial that brings an unexpected warmth to shaded gardens with its rusty dark orange to greenish-yellow tubular flowers marked inside with red veining and spots. Growing 1 to 2 feet tall and spreading 9 to 18 inches, this woody-based foxglove thrives in hardiness zones 4 through 8 and produces showy blooms in May and June that hummingbirds find irresistible. Unlike its taller cousins, this compact form combines the delicate charm of narrow, willow-like foliage with the structure of a low-maintenance perennial that asks little but well-drained soil and partial shade.
Partial Shade
Moderate
4-8
24in H x 18in W
—
Low
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The narrow, gray-green, willow-like leaves set this foxglove apart, giving it an almost feathery appearance even when not in bloom. Those pendulous, 1.5-inch funnel-shaped flowers in dusty oranges and yellows with interior red spotting arrive in late spring and draw hummingbirds reliably to the garden. As a deer-resistant perennial that naturally attracts pollinators, it offers genuine wildlife appeal without the burden of constant tending.
Willow-leaved Foxglove naturalizes well in mixed perennial borders, woodland edges, and partially shaded rock gardens where its compact stature and delicate flowers fill gaps without overwhelming neighboring plants. Its strong appeal to hummingbirds and other pollinators makes it a thoughtful choice for wildlife gardens seeking to support native insects and birds.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Remove spent flower spikes after bloom to encourage a secondary flowering and maintain a neat appearance; the developing seed heads can become unsightly as they mature. Leaving a few spikes in place allows the plant to self-seed if desired. Dense woody crowns benefit from good air circulation to prevent rot in damp conditions.
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“Digitalis obscura hails from Spain, where it evolved as a woody-based perennial in rocky, well-drained terrain. Its journey to northern gardens is less documented than its showier relatives, but the species represents the diversity within the Digitalis genus beyond the familiar tall biennial D. purpurea. The Spanish origins and distinctive narrow foliage suggest a plant adapted to drier, sunnier Mediterranean conditions, yet it has proven hardy enough to thrive in cooler temperate zones.”