Digiplexis progress

Digiplexis flowers

The digiplexis ‘Illumination Flame’ has been in constant bloom since we planted it, and since it looked like it had been in bloom for a while then. That’s a long blooming period!

Digiplexis plant
The plant is starting to produce numerous lateral flowering stems, so it’s time for a decaptiation to restore a more attractive growth habit.

It’s not as tidy as before. The flowers are progressing up the stem, leaving the lower stem bare. This is how foxgloves grow, and the remedy is to cut off the main flower stalk to force more lateral growth and multiple smaller flower stalks. We’ll test the cut top as a cut flower.

Digiplexis side stem
The lateral stems have already started to flower. Cutting the main stem will give them a boost.

If all goes well, as the plant grows it will produce multiple flower stalks from a larger basal rosette for a more impressive display. If not, the solution will be to add plants for multiple flower stalks coming out of a mass of leaves.

Published by mike

Mike is a licensed landscape architect. He's also an artist, photographer and occasional chef. Luciole Design specializes in sustainable, contemporary, modern landscape design - and traditional landscape styles that fit into California's Mediterranean climate. Sacramento, California.