Foxglove Pantaloons

If you're familiar with the favorite Pam's Choice, you'll recognize the coloring of Pantaloons. The exterior of each petal is pure white, while the inside is a richly spotted and speckled wash of dark maroon. Such an unusual combination in the garden -- not to mention in the Foxglove family!

Where the change comes in is the shape of the petals. Instead of each bloom being one continuous, long tubular petal, like every other Foxglove in the world (that's how the plant is said to have gotten its name: the blooms look like "fox's gloves" or "folks' [fairies] gloves"), Pantaloons offers flowers split up the sides into 4 long, even strips! The segments flutter in the breeze, revealing the maroon spotting within. On a blustery day they look like waving handkerchiefs! There's never been anything like it!

Needless to say, Pantaloons knocked 'em dead at the 2009 Chelsea Flower Show, and we're delighted to be able to bring them to you so quickly. What's more, if you start the seeds early (in late winter in your Bio-Dome or other seed-starter), you'll get blooms the FIRST YEAR! How's that for instant gratification, and from an inexpensive seed instead of a pricey new plant!

Pantaloons was not rushed to market, and you'll see its good breeding in two factors: the flower production is very heavy, and the plant habit is neat and compact. It branches from the base of the plant, giving you more flowering stems than the average Foxglove. (Nothing about this plant is average!) Expect it to reach 3 to 4 feet high in bloom, and up to 2 feet wide. In moderate and warm climates, the flowers will begin before spring is over; in colder areas, you'll see them in earliest summer. Either way, they last for many weeks, slowly opening from the bottom to the top of every glorious flowering stalk! You will LOVE this Foxglove!

Let's go over the sow-and-grow info so that you make the most of every Pantaloons seed. This variety needs light to germinate, so if you're using a seed flat, cover the seeds very lightly with medium. If you've got the Bio-Dome, you can't go wrong -- place the seed on the hole or on top of the Bio-Sponge right next to the hole; your choice. Germinate them at 65 to 85 degrees F, and expect it to take between 2 weeks and a month; Foxglove always makes you wait! (Start the seeds a bit earlier than you'd think, just in case.) Then grow them on at room temperature, and transplant when all danger of frost is past. They love a bit of afternoon shade in temperate and warm climates, but prefer full sun farther north. Be prepared for this one to wow you -- save a few plants to put in the cutting garden, if you can, because you're going to want to admire Pantaloons up close in the vase! Pkt is 50 seeds.