A foxglove that flowers in its first year. Position: partial shade Soil: humus-rich soil Rate of growth: average to fast Flowering period: June to July Hardiness: fully hardyA breakthrough in breeding has produced these new 'Dalmatian' foxgloves, which will usually flower in their first year. This purple flowered cultivar forms tidy clumps of foliage, but it is for the wonderful spires of thimble-like flowers that open upwards from the base of the spike in summer, that it is best-loved. Garden care: Ensure that the soil is kept moist in summer. After flowering, cut back the flowered spikes to encourage more sideshoots. Cut down to the ground after flowering. Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted organic matter around the plant in early spring. These plants are mainly short-lived perennials, although if happy they will produce plenty of new sideshoots and self-seed freely.
