Digitalis Dalmatian Rose

• Variety: Dalmatian Rose
• Latin name: Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian Rose' (Dalmatian Series)
• Type: Short-lived perennial (flowers first year)
• Flower: Rose pink with darker spots inside
• Height: 45cm (18in)
• Spread: 30cm (12in)
• Flowering: June–July
• Hardiness: Fairly Hardy (H5)
• Pruning: Deadhead to prevent seeding; cut back after flowering
• RHS AGM: Yes (2015)
• Sold as: Pot-grown plants
• Plant outdoors: Spring, in part shade or sun
• Delivered: Spring and summer. Collection from Castle Cary also available.

Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian Rose' is a dwarf foxglove reaching only 45cm, with rose-pink flowers spotted inside in June and July. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit (2015), flowers in its first season, and its compact height makes it the first foxglove that can be planted at the front or middle of a border without incongruity. All parts are toxic.

Foxglove Dalmatian Rose – Finally, a Foxglove for the Front of the Border

The standard foxglove reaches 150cm. Even Camelot White, the compact version, reaches 100cm. Dalmatian Rose stops at 45cm — smaller than many salvias, shorter than most lupins. This completely changes where and how you can use a foxglove. At 45cm it belongs in the middle of a border, not the back; it can be used in a patio container without dominating everything around it; it works in smaller gardens where a 150cm foxglove would be entirely out of scale. The flowers are the true foxglove form — upright spires of pendant, tubular bells spotted inside — in a warm rose-pink. The RHS gave it an AGM in 2015 alongside the other Dalmatian Series cultivars and the Camelot Series. Like them, it flowers in the first year.

Dalmatian Rose is rated H5 — as with all the Digitalis purpurea cultivars we stock — which means hardy in most UK gardens but potentially unreliable in the very coldest exposed positions. In practice, for the vast majority of gardens south of the Highlands and below the 300m contour, H5 is fully adequate. Allow a few plants to self-seed if you want a self-sustaining colony; the seedlings may not be true to the parent colour. Wash hands after handling — all parts of the foxglove are toxic.

Companions for Dalmatian Rose

At 45cm, Dalmatian Rose companions are mid-border plants rather than back-of-border giants. Camelot White at 100cm provides a natural height gradient — the two foxgloves together at different scales and colours, both flowering in June, is an elegant and straightforward combination. Geranium Bevan's Variety at the same height in magenta-pink creates a rich pink-on-pink combination at the border edge. Centaurea montana in blue flowers at the same time and provides excellent contrast at a similar scale. For late season, Echinacea White Swan takes over in July and August after Dalmatian Rose has finished.

Why Ashridge?

We use peat-free compost and biological pest controls. Dalmatian Rose is an excellent small-garden foxglove — the AGM reflects consistent performance at this unusual scale, and the first-year flowering removes the main frustration of the traditional biennial foxglove. Every plant is guaranteed. See the full perennial collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Foxglove Dalmatian Rose toxic?

Yes — all parts of the foxglove are toxic, including leaves, flowers, seeds, and stems. Wash hands after handling, and keep away from children, pets, and livestock. This applies to all Digitalis purpurea varieties. It does not make foxgloves unsuitable for normal gardens, but awareness is important.

How compact is Foxglove Dalmatian Rose?

Very compact — around 45cm (18in) in flower, which is roughly a third of the height of the wild foxglove. This makes it useful in positions where a standard foxglove would be impractical: front or middle of a border, patio containers, small gardens. The flower form is the same characteristic pendant-bell spike, just at a much more manageable scale.

Does Foxglove Dalmatian Rose come back every year?

It is a short-lived perennial that flowers in the first season. It may return for two or three years before declining, but it self-seeds willingly and a colony, once established, tends to self-renew. Some gardeners treat it as a short-lived perennial; others buy fresh plants each spring for guaranteed first-year performance.

What is the difference between Camelot White and Dalmatian Rose?

Two things primarily: height and colour. Camelot White reaches 100cm and is cream-white; Dalmatian Rose reaches 45cm and is rose-pink. Both hold the RHS AGM, both flower in the first year, and both are Digitalis purpurea. Camelot White belongs at mid-to-back border; Dalmatian Rose works at the front.

Can I grow Foxglove Dalmatian Rose in a pot?

Yes — its compact size makes it much more practical as a container plant than standard foxgloves. Use a generous pot (minimum 30cm diameter), multipurpose compost with some added grit for drainage, and keep well-watered. It will not be as long-lived in a pot as in the ground, but it will flower well in its first season.