Might it be a Digiplexis? This is a hybrid foxglove that is a cross between common Digitalis purpurea and Isoplexis, a foxglove relative from the Canary Islands. It is one of the few foxglove species or hybrids that produces new flower spikes throughout the growing season. It is sterile, so does not produce seed and to my knowledge, propagation is restricted (but you could try!).

It should be winter hardy in zones 8 and above.

Digitalis purpurea has many color forms, some are available as seed strains e.g. Apricot, white, ruffled pink etc. As biennials (or short lived perennials here) they are usually grown from seed, and in my experience the best flowering is the first time, subsequent years the plant is not as attractive and the stems shorter. Some say you can divide them - if there are some small plant-lets attached to the main stem you could try to root them separately or by layering while attached. But I would just try the specific seeds strains - despite the tiny dust like seed Foxgloves are easy to raise.

link to example seed site with color selections

Thank you both Gardengal and Chadinlg for your responses.

Gardengal -- Amazing that breeders can take a plant like Digiplexis (which looks far sturdier in leaf and very tropically red-orange in flower) and cross is with a common, northern foxglove. You'd think they'd need to count chromosomes as the plants look so different. http://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/pickoftheweek/article/Digiplexis-Illumination-Flame-fuses-superb-5336422.php I find this fascinating and intend, in the near future, to engage in some outlandish propagations. We'll see.

CHadinlg -- I would think that the plant has some sort of aging mechanism within its genes that determines its age. Something like shortening telemeres? Anyway, imagine an old plant with many roots, suddenly cut and divided into new plants -- won't the new plants assume the age of the old, particularly if they are from root cuttings? I would think that the new plants created from the division would be the same "age" as the old single plant; a biennial thus divided would make more biennials, but on their last year.

Do plant babies from root division reset their biological clocks? Seems impossible, actually.

Kristen

Just to clarify, Digiplexis is a cross between Digitalis and Isoplexis (as it says in Gardengal's post). Lovely Isoplexis is, unfortunately, also a short-lived plant--roughly three years. I would put it more in the sub-shrub category. Digiplexis is generally propagated by tissue culture. Not that I want to discourage you in any way from experimenting--I love to try plant experiments, too. Let us know how it goes!