How to Grow and Care for Foxglove - Digitalis

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Digitalis-commonly called foxglove–produces tall graceful spires of long, slender, bell-shaped blossoms. The blossoms open from bottom to top over several weeks. Flowers come in shades of pink, as well as white and creamy yellow.

Digitalis are members of a genus of about 22 species of biennials and short-lived perennials. Common foxglove, D. purpurea, is an often-planted, old-fashioned garden favorite. Flowers in this genus are borne on erect spikes; flowers are tubular or funnel-shaped. Flower spikes rise above a rosette of large, lance-shaped leaves.

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Plant Digitalis in groups in dappled shade. Use foxglove in borders, cottage gardens, woodland gardens, and rock gardens. Digitalis grows well with ferns and looks right in place on slopes. Digitalis are cold hardy, but heat sensitive. They grow best when summers are not too hot.

Important note: All parts of the foxglove are toxic. If ingested contact a local poison control center.

Table of Contents

Get to know Digitalis — foxglove

Plant type: Biennial or perennial; it can be grown as an annual, biennial, or perennial depending on variety and climate.
Growing Zones and range: Zones 4 to 8; grow as a biennial in Zone 9.
Hardiness: Hardy to -30°F (-34°C); cold hardy but heat-sensitive; grows best where summers are not too hot.
Height and width: 2 to 5 feet (.6-1.5m) tall; 12 to 24 inches (30-61cm) wide
Foliage: Bold, oblong to lance-shaped, gray-green, hairy leaves
Flowers: spikes of bell-shaped flowers; shades of rose, pink, white, and yellow; plants bloom the second year; readily reseeds
Bloom time: Late spring or early summer
Uses: Add to informal or cottage garden; a good choice for a woodland garden or rock garden
Common name: Foxglove
Botanical name: Digitalis purpurea
Family: Scropulariaceae
Origin: Europe, Northwestern Africa to Central Asia

Where to plant Digitalis -- foxglove

Plant Digitalis in full sun in Zones 4-7; plant foxglove in partial shade in Zones 8-9.
Grow Digitalis in humus-rich, well-drained soil.
Digitalis prefers a soil pH of about 6.5.

Digitalis uses and companions

Mass Digitalis for a lovely vertical effect in borders and in cottage and shade gardens.
Good garden companions for Digitalis include Alchemilla mollis, Campanula, Dicentra, Hosta, Thalictrum.

Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea — Foxglove, *Digitalis purpurea*

When to plant Digitalis -- foxglove

Set established Digitalis seedlings outdoors in spring.
Biennial types can be seeded in the garden in midsummer.
In Zones 7-9 established seedlings and be set in the garden in the fall for bloom the following spring.
Start seed indoors any time from late winter to the end of spring in temperatures near 60°F (15.6°C).
Sow seed outdoors in spring after the last frost or in summer in northern cool-summer regions; in mild-winter regions, sow seed in autumn.

Planting and spacing Digitalis -- foxglove

Sow seed indoors in six-packs or flat filled with a moist, sterile seed-starting medium; do not cover the tiny seeds because they need light to germinate.
Sow seed 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep.
Space seeds about an inch (2.5cm) apart,
Seeds should germinate in 14 to 21 days.
Thin or transplant seedlings when they are 3 to 4 inches (7.6-10cm) tall; transplant seedlings to individual pots.
Transplant seedlings outdoors when they are 8 inches (20cm) tall or more. Set plants outdoors after hardening them off for several days.
Space Digitalis 1 to 2 feet (30-61cm) apart.
Plant Digitalis in groups of 10 or more for the best effect.

How to water and feed Digitalis -- foxglove

Keep the soil evenly moist; some varieties tolerate less water.
Add aged compost to the planting bed ahead of planting.
Fertilize Digitalis lightly at planting time; feed plants every four weeks with an all-purpose liquid fertilizer.

Foxglove flowers bloom from the bottom of the stem upwards

Digitalis -- foxglove care

Mulch around foxglove to keep the soil evenly moist.
Stake tall plants to keep them from flopping over, especially in windy areas.
Remove flowering stems after they bloom unless you plan to harvest the seed; trim back the tops after they turn brown in autumn.
Protect plants with 2 inches (5cm) of chopped leaves or light mulch in winter.

Digitalis -- foxglove pests and diseases

Pests and diseases include mildew, leaf spot, and Japanese battles. Control beetles with pheromone traps.

Digitalis -- foxglove propagation

Sow seed from spring until late summer either in a frame or in the open garden.
Digitalis seed germinates in 20 to 30 days at 60° to 70°F (16°-21°C).
Divide large clumps with multiple basal rosettes when new leaf growth begins in early spring. Do not cut rosettes in half, just separate them.
Replant division immediately; they should bloom the same year.

Digitalis -- foxglove varieties to grow

Digitalis grandiflora: Biennial or perennial that grows to 3 feet tall with racemes of 2-inch long pale yellow tubular flower.
D. lutea: Biennial or perennial that bears racemes of pale yellow or white flowers.
D. x mertonensis, strawberry foxglove: Perrenail grows 5 to 7 feet tall and has coppery rose flowers in late spring or early summer; seeds grow true.
D. purpurea, common foxglove: Biennial or short-lived perennial grows 2 to 6 feet tall; bears showy spikes of 2 to 3-inch flowers in rose-purple, white, pink, or creamy yellow; blooms are commonly spotted with purple inside; is used by plant breeders to develop many cultivars widely available.‘Excelsior’ hybrids bloom the first year from seed.

Digitalis grandiflora -- Yellow foxglove

Digitalis grandiflora is a woodland plant from Greece. Yellow foxglove bears soft pastel blossom to the late spring and early summer garden. Flower spikes are 1 foot long and studded along one side with pendant, brown-speckled, tubular yellow flowers. Leaves are hairy and form basal clumps beneath the flower stems.

Size: 2 to 3 feet tall; 2- foot-wide clumps.
Light: Part to light shade.
Soil and moisture: Fertile, humus-rich, acid soil, plentiful moisture.
Planting and propagation: Plant container-grown plants in spring, spacing 2 to 3 feet apart. Divide every two or three years in early spring.
Special care: May rebloom if faded spikes are cut back before seeds set. Division improves longevity.
Pest and diseases: Mildew and leaf spot may be troublesome in hot, humid areas.
Climate: Zones 3-8.
Similar species: D. lutea, small creamy yellow flowers in narrow spikes, glossy leaves, 2 feet tall, self-sows readily.
Garden use: Makes an attractive soft yellow accent in woodland and shade gardens. Combines well with blue flowers of Siberian bugloss and blue-eyed Mary.

Digitalis purpurea -- Floxglove

Digitalis purpurea is a tall biennial or short-lived perennial that self-sows itself year after year. Pendulous 1- to 2-inch, trumpet-shaped flowers are borne on one-side spikes. Flowers open from the bottom of the spike upward in late spring to early summer. Blossoms last for about four weeks. Flowers are lavender with spotted throats in the species, but white or shades of pink, lavender, purple, or yellow in the cultivars. Leaves are downy, forming late basal rosettes and climbing partway up the flower stalks.

Size: 2 to 5 feet tall when in bloom.
Light: Part shade best.
Soil and moisture: Fertile, humus-rich moist, acid soil; plentiful moisture.
Planting and propagation: Plant container-grown plants in spring, spacing 1 foot apart. Sow seeds in summer for next year’s bloom.
Special care: Do not allow it to dry out. Cut off stalks of ripened seedpods and shake out seeds where new plants are desired, or allow them to self-sow. May need individual stakes.
Pest and diseases: Sometimes troubled by powdery mildew, aphids, mealy bugs, and Japanese beetles.
Climates: Zones 4-9.
Cultivars and similar species: ‘Alba,’ ivory-white, ‘Apricot Beauty,’ apricot-orange; ’Excelsior Hybrids,’ flowers borne all around spike in pastel shades of pink, mauve, yellow, and white, 4 to 5 feet tall. ‘Foxy,’ mixed colors 2 ½ feet tall, flowers first year from seed. D. x mertonensis (strawberry foxglove): rose- pink flowers, 3 to 4 feet tall, short-lived, Zones 3-8.
Garden use: Lovely massed for vertical effect in borders and in cottage and shade gardens.

Foxglove frequently asked questions

Q: Can I start foxglove indoors?

A: Yes. for an early start, sow seeds of foxglove 8 to 10 weeks before transplanting outdoors. You can set seedlings in the garden 2 to 3 weeks before the last spring frost.

Q: How do I start foxglove outdoors?

A: Foxgloves are easy to grow from seed. Simply scatter seeds on the ground after the last spring frost. You can also start them in a cold frame in late fall and transplant them to the garden in summer.

Q: What growing conditions do foxglove prefer?

A; Foxglove likes humus-rich, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. Grow foxglove in full sun in slightly moist soil.

Q: Can I get foxglove to bloom twice in a season?

A: Yes. Cut the main flower stem after it finishes blooming and other flowers will grow, Leave a few dead flowers on the plants to get them to self-sow and naturalize.

Q: Should I fertilize foxglove during the growing season?

A: Yes. To get better blooms, feed foxglove a liquid fertilizer during flowering.

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