Canary Island foxglove (Digitalis canariensis)

Canary Island foxglove (Digitalis canariensis) is a conservatory or greenhouse grown type of plant that can grow 50cm – 1.5m tall and 50cm – 1.5m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Canary Island foxglove (Digitalis canariensis).

This plant is commonly known as Canary Island foxglove.

This is a evergreen plant that takes 2-5 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: Canary Island foxglove
Scientific name: Digitalis canariensis
Plant type: Conservatory & Greenhouse, Shrubs
Habit: Clump-forming
Height: 50cm – 1.5m
Spread: 50cm – 1.5m
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Chalk, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained, Well drained
Garden type: City & Courtyard Gardens, Coastal, Informal Garden, Patio & Container Garden, Sub-tropical
Planting type: Flower borders and bedding, Wall-side Borders
Other characteristics: Plants for pollinators

Seasonal colors

How to plant Canary Island foxglove (Digitalis canariensis) – scott.zona, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to plant

In this section we will learn how to plant Canary Island foxglove (Digitalis canariensis), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.

Soil

Canary Island foxglove (Digitalis canariensis) is not a demanding plant regarding the type of soil and can grow in chalk, loam or sand.

• The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.

• The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.

• Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.

It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.

Regarding drainage, Digitalis canariensis likes to grow in moist but well drained or well drained soils.

Sunlight

Canary Island foxglove (Digitalis canariensis) is a plant that should be grown in full sun or partial shade positions.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Canary Island foxglove (Digitalis canariensis) – peganum from Small Dole, England, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons