Digitalis x valinii ‘Firebird’ is a perennial foxglove that was bred by John Fielding, in the UK.  This is a really unusual foxglove; it’s a strikingly beautiful plant, which is praised for its robust character, as well as its good looks.  Digitalis x valinii ‘Firebird’ was created during a specially developed breeding programme that set out to develop new, hardy foxgloves.  It’s claimed that Digitalis x valinii ‘Firebird’ is hardy down to -5C (23F).

Plants usually grow as short lived perennials, but Digitalis x valinii ‘Firebird’ can on occasion grow as a biennial – when the plant dies after flowering.  I’m told that Digitalis x valinii ‘Firebird’ is like many foxgloves, in that it self seeds freely.  So, if you like Digitalis x valinii ‘Firebird’ and desire more plants, leave the flowers to die back and allow your plants to self-seed around your garden.

Digitalis x valinii ‘Firebird’ plants produce a number of flowering stems per plant, with each spire reaching around 90cm (35 inches) tall.  While the plant itself will occupy a space that’s around 60cm (24 inches) wide, depending of course on your soil, situation, and the plant’s growing conditions.

Articles that mention Digitalis x valinii ‘Firebird’:

• Aug. 2019 – The Silent Pool Gin Garden, designed by David Neale, for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019
• May. 2019 – RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019 (part one)
• May. 2019 – RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year 2019
• May. 2019 – David Neale and the Silent Pool Gin Garden, at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019