Digitalis 'Spice Land'
A vibrant, space-saving foxglove perfect for smaller gardens and pollinator-friendly borders
Overview
Digitalis 'Spice Land' is a beautifully compact and free-flowering variety that brings all the charm of traditional foxgloves into a more manageable size, ideal for smaller spaces, containers, and front-of-border planting. This specially bred mix produces a cheerful range of warm, spice-toned blooms in shades of soft pink, apricot, peach, and creamy yellow. Flowering in its first year, 'Spice Land' offers instant colour and reliable performance for gardeners of all experience levels.
Key Features
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Botanical name: Digitalis purpurea ‘Spice Land’
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Common name: Foxglove
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Plant type: Hardy biennial (can behave as a short-lived perennial in mild climates)
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Height: 1.2m (4ft)
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Spread: 0.45m (1.5ft)
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Flowering Time: Summer (June to July), often flowering in the first year
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Position: Thrives in partial shade but will tolerate full sun if kept well-watered
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Soil: Moist, well-drained soil; prefers neutral to slightly acidic conditions
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Hardiness: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -20 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H7)
Flowers and Foliage
The 'Spice Land' mix produces short, upright flower spikes packed with small to medium tubular blooms in a variety of warm tones. The flowers are lightly speckled inside and stand out against the soft green foliage below. Unlike traditional foxgloves, this variety has a much more compact habit, making it perfect for smaller gardens, containers, or even balcony pots.
Garden Uses
Digitalis 'Spice Land' is ideal for gardeners who want the beauty of foxgloves without the towering height. Use it at the front of borders, in mixed containers, or to brighten up smaller garden spaces. It works well with other compact perennials and annuals, especially in naturalistic, cottage-style, or wildlife-focused gardens. The varied colours bring warmth and vibrancy to summer displays.
Wildlife Benefits
Foxgloves are known for attracting pollinators, and 'Spice Land' is no exception. The nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for bees and other beneficial insects, making this a valuable plant for encouraging biodiversity in gardens of all sizes.
Care and Maintenance
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Watering: Water regularly, especially during dry periods or when grown in containers
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Potted: Can grown in pots can be planted at any time of the year providing the ground is not frozen or waterlogged.
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Pruning: Cut back main flower spike as it fades to encourage the growth of flowering side shoots
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Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertiliser during the growing season for best results
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Growth Habit: Short-lived perennial or biennial, but often grown as an annual for seasonal colour
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Propagation: Sow seed in spring for flowers the same year or allow to self-seed naturally
Safety Note
All parts of Digitalis are toxic if eaten. Always take care when planting around pets or small children, and wear gloves if you have sensitive skin.
Summary
Digitalis 'Spice Land' is a delightful compact foxglove variety that delivers rich, warm colour and pollinator appeal without taking up too much space. Easy to grow, early to flower, and versatile in use, it’s a fantastic choice for containers, small gardens, and those seeking low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly planting.
Buying Perennials from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we lightly trim back our perennials after flowering and trim them back at the end of the season to ensure that the plants remain neat and tidy whilst in the pot. The more tender the plant the less we cut back to help protect exposed stems from winter frost. Depending on the plant variety we will then prune back further in spring once the risk of the more severe frosts is over.
As a result, depending on the time of year you buy perennials, they may not look like images showing their ‘prime time’ in flower and looking at their best.
From late autumn onwards and dependent on variety, there may be very little visible above the soil except for a few cut back dormant leaves or stems. It is perfectly normal for dormant plants to look like this from autumn onwards, they will however burst back into life in spring.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
Perennials are described and classified differently by different gardeners but all would agree that they are plants that come into flower every year from early spring to late summer, the exact time dependent on variety and most die back to ground level in autumn and winter.
As for all plants, soil preparation is time well spent. Dig over the area to be planted ensuring that the ground is free draining. If not then you may wish to either consider planting in a different spot or raising the level of the planting area by adding additional topsoil, well rotted garden compost and/or well rotted manure. Add ‘Fish, Blood and Bone’ fertiliser or a high potash fertiliser to encourage good root growth and development.
It’s always a good idea to plant a few of the same plant together, we recommend planting in 3’s or 5’s to provide a bold effect but allowing them plenty of room to develop.
Always check eventual plant heights when planning borders to ensure that the taller plants are at the back (or at the centre of an island bed) followed by the medium and then smaller low growing plants.
Remember to deadhead perennials after flowering, trim back lightly in autumn as required to tidy the border and if necessary trim again in spring once the risk of heavy frost has passed.
If perennials get too big, start to flower less and less or if it seems to be dying off from the centre, consider dividing the plant but always check that the particular variety is happy to be divided and that you divide at the right time of year for the plant.
By using this simple guide and a little time, perennials can make an absolutely spectacular difference to your garden.
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In stock
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£6.99 |