Digiplexis 'Illumination Raspberry'

Digitalis x valinii ‘Illumination Raspberry’ – Digiplexis Foxglove

The gardening world was taken by storm in 2012 when English company Thompson and Morgan released Digitalis ‘Illumination Pink’. The breakthrough new hybrid was the result of years of breeding experiments by Charles Valin, and for the first time crossed two genera, Digitalis and its more exotic cousin from the Canary Islands, Isoplexis.

Several of these crosses have followed, and the pithy portmanteau name Digiplexis has come to commonly identify them. The only wrinkle here is that the successful crossing has caused Isoplexis species to be reclassified under the Digitalis genus, making Digiplexis somewhat nonsensical. The hybrids are now formally (and fittingly) recognised as Digitalis x valinii to honour the pioneering work of Charles Valin.

This Digitalis x valinii cultivar, ‘Illumination Raspberry’, is also part of the Illumination series. It puts on a wonderfully long display from October until April, with 60-90 cm flower spikes bearing dozens of outward-facing flowers in deep raspberry red-purple, with pale speckled interiors.

Digiplexis ‘Illumination Raspberry’ makes a great addition to a cottage garden, and a superb potted plant.

• Height: 60-90 cm
• Width: 40-50 cm
• Light: Full sun