This month I'm focusing on a cultivated flower for the wildlife garden, rather than wildflowers that can cross into any garden space. Although the flowering period is ending for this lovely plant, it has strong benefits for wildlife during late summer into autumn, and I'd love to share its merits with you.  

Digitalis ferruginea is such a beautiful and wonderful addition to any wildlife garden at this time of year. For those with small garden spaces, look out for this plant next year to consider planting in your space. 

How to identify digitalis ferruginea

Commonly known as the Rusty Foxglove, it belongs to the family Plantaginaceae and is native to Hungary, Romania, Turkey and the Caucasus. This striking perennial will flower with its coppery, golden bronze-yellow flowers from mid to late summer.   

I'd recommend this stunning and interesting short-lived perennial plant for any wildlife garden. The tubular, bell-shaped coppery flowers with red-veined throats will readily self-seed, which is great for regeneration! This lovely flower will thrive best in sun or semi shade in a moisture retentive soil, preferably moist organic rich, acidic soil. It can reach a height of 1.5 metres, adding architectural structure to your garden. The trick to help it reach its full flowering potential is not to let it dry out.

What are the benefits of digitalis ferruginea for wildlife?

Digitalis ferruginea is officially listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list, and so it's great to include this plant in your wildlife garden space; not just for its value for wildlife, but also its amazing colour tones and flower structure.

I'm sure there's some value in research that denotes certain flower colours or structure attracting beneficial insects into our garden spaces.  

This eye-catching flower is great for pulling in bumblebees and other long-tongued bee species, as well as hoverflies. They easily navigate the unique tubular flowers, the flower throats forming landing guides that act as a visual pathway for bees to land and enter. I've quietly observed this with sheer amazement!

The bell-shaped coppery flowers hold a rich nectar supply which is safely protected from the rain inside each bloom (nature intended it that way!) 

The life cycle of digitalis ferruginea

The primary flowering period for Digitalis ferruginea is June to August, but in the right conditions with cool spells and more rain this beauty can push into September.  

The seed heads this year started to turn green at stage one in early to mid August, as the diminishing flower heads work their way up the stems. As the next cycle of nature takes a hold, the seeds heads mature, turning brown.

The seeds are great food for birds, and various bird species actively forage them from the plants. The dried, hollow stems throughout winter also create valuable nesting and hiding places for many beneficial insects.   

Whilst it should be pointed out that foxgloves are poisonous to people and animals, it's usually less likely that domestic animals eat these seeds. Rabbits would be affected, but it's about weighing up your wildlife space and being observant to your surroundings, considering your pets if you have any, and always wearing gloves while handling these plants.  

As a Professional Gardener, more often than not I try to leave stems and seed heads for cutting back as near to spring as possible. Occasionally, I cut back perennials early to disperse seeds within an area, or to collect for propagation.  

The wildlife gardener's work is never done!