The foxglove is a stately plant that has been featured in gardens for centuries. A common, vertical accent in cottage gardens, the foxglove has also been grown for cut flowers, as an herb for medicinal purposes and in Victorian era gardens as well.
Cultivation Information and How to Grow Foxglove Plants
Botanical and Common Name: The scientific name for foxglove is Digitalis.
Plant Category: Most foxglove species are biennial while a few grow as true perennials, though short-lived.
Hardiness Zones: Foxgloves are hardy in zones 4-9.
Bloom Time & Color: In the summer foxgloves have stately flowers carried on tall flower stalks. Many foxgloves have purple, white, yellow or pink colored flowers on 4-6’ stalks.
Foliage: Foxglove leaves grow in large rosette clump close to the ground above which the flower stalks are held.
Growth Habit:Foxglove plantsare upright and vertical accents in the garden.
Dimensions: Foxgloves are about 5’ tall and 1’ wide.
Preferred Conditions: Foxgloves prefer part shade and humis rich soil.
Maintenance: Cutting spent foxglove blooms will encourage repeat blooming. Some gardeners choose to leave the last flower stalks of the season because foxgloves will self-sow in the garden.
Pests or Diseases: Foxglove plants can be prone to crown rot so you’ll want to make sure the soil is well-drained. Leaf spot can also harm foxgloves so take care not to overcrowd.
Propagation Methods: Foxgloves are easy to start by seed indoors about 10 weeks before last frost date.
Using Foxglove in the Garden Landscape
Companion Plants: Other shade plants make great companions for the foxglove such as hellebores, astilbe, heuchera, camellia or hostas.
Seasons of Interest: Foxgloves have strong seasons of interest with the grey-green leaf rosettes, the interesting summer flowers and the winter seed heads some gardeners leave standing for interest in the fall and winter.
Uses in the Garden: Foxgloves makes a fantastic back of the border plant where the strong vertical accent can really show. Digitalis is great for cottage gardens, attracting hummingbirds, and cut flower gardens.
Other Uses: Foxglove has been used as a powerful medicinal for years and is in fact the base for a potent heart medication Digitalin (Digoxin). It is highly toxic plant if ingested so take care using it in a garden young children or pets will frequent. Birds are attracted to the seed heads and will enjoy them as a late autumn treat if you leave the foxglove stalks standing.
Varieties & Cultivars of Foxglove Plants
- Purple Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) – An early summer biennial foxglove with 4-5’ stalks bearing purple and white bell-shaped flowers.
- Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora – A pure white foxglove cultivar that is stunning in a moon garden or paired with camellias.
- Common Hybrids include the Excelsior Hybrid Foxglove Series which are full sized and come in a range of colors, while Foxy Hybrids Foxgloves are half sized foxgloves and suitable for smaller garden spaces. Camelot Rose Hybrids have sturdy stalks less prone to falling over in the wind.
- Yellow Foxglove (Digitalis grandiflora) – A perennial foxglove that grows only 2-3’ tall with bright yellow flowers appearing in the early summer.
- Grecian Foxglove (Digitalis lanata) – A yellow-white flowered species also called Wooly Foxglove and is considered to be an invasive species in some areas of Minnesota and by the Western Weed Society. Can be grown in most gardens without problems if seedlings are controlled.
- Rusty Foxglove (Digitalis ferruginea) – This foxglove may not be as “showy” as some of the others but grows well in areas other plants may not, such as dry shade, and competing with tree roots. Flowers are golden with red-brown markings in them giving them the rusty foxglove look.
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