Foxglove 'Camelot Cream' Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot Cream' (Camelot Series)
ABOUT
'Camelot Cream' is a biennial or short-lived perennial, 1.2m high, with overwintering rosettes of grey-green leaves, and spikes of cream flowers, spotted with maroon inside, over a long flowering period in summer; the flowers appear in the first rather than second year, grow all round the spikes rather than on one side, and face horizontally rather than hanging downwards; wild native foxgloves are a reliably good source of nectar for bumblebees, especially long-tongued bumblebees, and some but not all garden cultivars may also be good bumblebee plants
About this plant
NamesFamily
Plantaginaceae
Synonyms
Common Foxglove, Lady's Glove, Purple Foxglove, Fairy Bells, Fairy Fingers, Fairy Petticoats, Fairy Thimbles, Dead Men's Bells, Bloody Fingers, Witches' Gloves, Goblin Gloves, Throatwort, Scotch Mercury, Lion's Mouth, Finger Flower, Folk's Glove, Virgin's Glove
Common names
Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot Cream'
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Biennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Cream
Height
3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 meters)
Spread
1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters)
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
4-9
Native area
Europe
Benefits
General Benefits- Aesthetic Appeal: Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot Cream' adds visual interest to gardens with its tall spikes of cream-colored flowers with speckled throats.
- Attracts Pollinators: The flowers provide an excellent nectar source for bees and hummingbirds, contributing to the health of the pollinator population.
- Versatility: This plant can be used in borders, woodland gardens, cottage gardens, or as an accent plant, offering flexibility in garden design.
- Seasonal Interest: It blooms from late spring to early summer, filling a time when many other plants have not started or have already finished flowering.
- Deer and Rabbit Resistant: Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot Cream' is resistant to browsing by deer and rabbits, making it suitable for gardens where wildlife is common.
- Cut Flower: The blooms make excellent cut flowers for indoor arrangements, extending the beauty of the garden into the home.
- Easy to Grow: This plant is known for being easy to cultivate, requiring minimal maintenance once established in the appropriate conditions.
Medical Properties- Cardiac glycoside content: The leaves contain digitoxin and digoxin, compounds that affect heart muscle and are used to treat certain heart conditions.
- Heart rate regulation: Historically, the plant has been used to regulate heart rate in patients with heart rhythm disorders.
- Heart failure treatment: Compounds in the plant have been employed to increase cardiac contractility in cases of heart failure.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Foxglove 'Camelot Cream' can be used for educational purposes in botany and horticulture classes to showcase selective breeding and hybridization techniques given its cultivated Series status.
- The flowers can be used for botanical art and illustration, due to their unique creamy hue and bell-shaped formation, providing artistic inspiration.
- These plants can be used in apiculture as they are attractive to bees and can support the local bee population by supplying ample nectar.
- Pressing and preserving foxglove flowers can be a hobby, as they can retain some of their color when dried and be used for crafts or decoration.
- Foxglove 'Camelot Cream' can be used in photography to help create a cottage garden setting or add romanticism to the landscape.
- These plants can serve as natural pest control in gardens because they are unappealing to deer and other plant-eating pests, thus protecting nearby plants.
- Foxgloves can be used to create subtle natural dyes for fabrics, though this is less common and should be done with care due to their toxicity if mishandled.
- The leaves of foxgloves can be used as a green colorant in soaps, albeit, again, with caution due to the toxic compounds they contain.
- They can serve as an acoustic barrier when strategically planted in densely packed rows, their foliage and flower spikes may help to dampen sound.
- Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot Cream' can be included in floriculture education to teach about plant patenting, as new cultivars like those in the 'Camelot Series' may be patented.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Foxglove is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Foxglove is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Healing: Digitalis purpurea, commonly known as Foxglove, has medicinal properties that have been historically used to treat heart conditions.
- Bewitchment: Foxglove has a mystical aura and is often associated with magic and enchantment, reflecting its toxic nature and historical use in folklore.
- Insincerity: Due to its poisonous characteristics, the Foxglove symbolizes deceit or a hidden agenda, reminding us to be cautious about outward appearances.
- Protection: In folklore, Foxgloves were believed to ward off evil influences and protect homes when planted in gardens.
WaterFoxgloves, like Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot Cream', prefer consistently moist soil, so it's important to water them when the top inch of soil feels dry. Typically, this means watering them once or twice a week, but the frequency can vary based on temperature and humidity. Use a gentle watering method, such as a watering can or a soft spray nozzle, to avoid disturbing the soil or damaging the plant. Each watering session should provide enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of a few inches; this might mean using up to a gallon for larger plants or just a few ounces for smaller ones. Adjust the amount of water according to the plant's size and the weather conditions, watering more during hot, dry spells, and reducing frequency during cooler, wet periods.
LightFoxgloves like Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot Cream' thrive best in partial shade to full sun. The optimal spot for planting them is where they can receive morning sunlight and are protected from the intense heat of the afternoon sun. They can tolerate full sun in cooler climates, but in warmer regions, filtered light or afternoon shade will prevent the leaves from burning.
TemperatureFoxgloves are hardy in a wide range of temperatures, but Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot Cream' grows best in cooler climates. They are able to survive in temperature as low as the upper twenties Fahrenheit and can endure up to the low eighties before they start to experience stress. Ideal growing conditions for these foxgloves are daytime temperatures in the sixties to seventies Fahrenheit and cooler nighttime temperatures.
PruningFoxgloves, like Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot Cream', benefit from deadheading spent flowers to promote further blooming and to prevent self-sowing if desired. Prune the stalks down to the base after flowering to encourage a tidy appearance and potentially a second, smaller flush of blooms. Pruning is best done in the late summer or fall after the plant has finished blooming for the season.
CleaningAs needed
SoilFoxglove 'Camelot Cream' thrives in a well-draining soil rich in organic matter with a pH of 6.5-7.5. Amend the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to improve fertility.
RepottingFoxgloves are biennials and typically do not need repotting. 'Camelot Cream' may be sown directly into the garden or started in pots and transplanted.
Humidity & MistingFoxglove 'Camelot Cream' does well in average humidity conditions; it does not require any special humidity adjustments.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Grow in bright indirect light, ensure proper soil drainage.
Outdoor
Plant in partial sun; shelter from strong winds; mulch.
Hardiness zone
4-9 USDA
Life cycleDigitalis purpurea 'Camelot Cream', also known as Foxglove, begins its life cycle when the seeds are sown in late spring to early summer. The seeds germinate in warm, moist soil, where they develop into small rosettes of leaves in their first growing season. During their second year, they send up tall spikes that bear bell-shaped, cream-colored flowers with speckled throats, attracting bees and hummingbirds. After flowering, the plant produces capsule-like seed pods, which release seeds for new plants to grow. Once the seeds have been dispersed, the parent plant typically dies off, although some may survive and flower for another season in milder climates. Throughout its life, Foxglove is a biennial, meaning it completes its life cycle from seed to flower to seed again over two growing seasons.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring to Summer
Propogation: Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot Cream', commonly known as Foxglove, is typically propagated through seeds. The most popular method involves sowing the seeds after the risk of frost has passed in the spring or during the early fall in trays filled with well-drained soil. It's important to gently press the seeds into the soil because they require light for germination, so they should not be covered. Seeds usually germinate in two to three weeks at a temperature around 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 21 degrees Celsius). After the seedlings have developed their first true leaves, they can be transferred to individual pots and grown on in cooler conditions until they are ready to be planted out in the garden after the last expected frost.
