How to Grow and Care for Foxgloves in Your Garden

The common foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is a biennial flowering plant species native to Europe and Northwest Africa. Foxgloves have long, downward-facing tubular flower spikes, and depending on the variety, pink, white, red, and yellow hues (though purple is the color of the common foxglove). They can grow up to six feet tall and are typically planted towards the back of a flower bed. In its first year of growth, foxgloves will develop rosette-shaped buds that are close to the ground. The second year they will bloom showy, tall spikes of flowers and die off the next year.

There are a few different types of foxglove plants, each with its own features and growing conditions. Some different foxglove varieties include the following.

1. 1. Camelot: This popular hybrid variety of foxglove has two-to-three-inch flower bells, and comes in colors like rose, lavender, white, and cream.
2. 2. Candy mountain: Candy mountain foxgloves grow two to three-inch flowers that point upward instead of downward like most foxglove species. The flowers bloom in a deep pink color speckled with white rings.
3. 3. Excelsior: Excelsior foxgloves have outward-facing flowers that bloom in hues like pink, purple, and peach, with white-ringed brown speckles.
4. 4. Apricot beauty: Apricot beauty foxglove grows into an ombre apricot color. These foxgloves typically have a two-foot spread of tall flower spikes that can reach up to five feet in height.
5. 5. Alba: Alba is a foxglove species that sprouts long, white flowers between May and June. These foxgloves are evergreen biennials that grow up to five feet tall and two feet wide.
6. 6. Foxy: Foxy is a dwarf variety of foxglove which sprouts lavender, white, and yellow flowers. This particular cultivar can grow two to three feet tall.
7. 7. Strawberry: The strawberry foxglove is a perennial foxglove hybrid that is a cross between the yellow foxglove (Digitalis grandiflora) and the common foxglove. The strawberry pink flowers are bell-shaped, and the stalks can grow up to three feet high.

Foxgloves grow best in USDA hardiness zones four through eight. Depending on your specific region, foxgloves can be planted whenever the ground is moist and warm. Foxgloves grown in containers should be planted in the late spring, while seeds grown directly in your garden soil should be planted in the late summer. Avoid planting your foxgloves after the late fall, because they will likely not receive enough sunlight and warmth at this time to properly germinate.

Foxglove plants grow easily from seed but are biennial plants, which means they will typically only bloom twice before they die. (Occasionally, foxgloves can live longer in optimal growing conditions.) Luckily, foxgloves self-seed easily, making new growth in your garden possible after the second year without much effort. Here is how to propagate foxgloves from seed in your garden.

1. 1. Pick a spot. You can plant foxgloves in containers or as a border around your garden. Choose a location that receives plenty of full sun and partial shade in the afternoon. Your seeds will need plenty of water to germinate.
2. 2. Prepare your soil. If planting directly in your garden, make sure that the area has well-draining soil with a pH that is slightly acidic to neutral, between 5.5 and 6.5 (which you can amend with compost or mulch).
3. 3. Sow your foxglove seeds. Use protective gloves to handle your foxglove seeds. Sow seeds right beneath the surface of the soil or directly on top, leaving them exposed to enough light, which they need to germinate. If you’re planting multiple foxglove seeds, make sure to space your seeds out well to provide them with plenty of air circulation. Water your seeds immediately after you plant them.

Foxgloves are easy to take care of and only require little maintenance to stay healthy. Follow these care tips to ensure healthy growth for your foxgloves.

1. 1. Stake your plants. Depending on the foxglove variety, the species can grow between two and six feet tall. Taller varieties will need staking to help keep the stalks upright.
2. 2. Keep the soil moist. Foxgloves prefer moist, rich soil. Water your foxgloves early in the morning at least once a week until the top inch of the soil is thoroughly damp. Avoid overwatering your foxgloves and waterlogging the roots. Add a layer of mulch over your plant’s roots to help it retain moisture.
3. 3. Deadhead your foxgloves. Unless you want your foxgloves to replant themselves wherever their seeds drop, remove spent flowers to help the plant preserve its energy for the following season’s blooms.
4. 4. Be wary of pests and diseases. Foxgloves are susceptible to aphids, slugs, white fungal spores, and leaf spots. Use organic insecticidal soaps or beneficial insects (like ladybugs) to help control infestations.

Foxgloves are highly poisonous plants that should never be ingested or consumed in any way. Though Grecian foxglove (Digitalis lanata) is used to create a drug that treats heart failure, the foxglove should not be used by anyone to self-treat any type of medical condition. Keep pets and small children away from foxgloves planted in your yard or in your home. Always use protective gloves when handling the foxglove plant or its seeds.

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