These magical spikes of flowers are popular with pollinators and are a delightful sight in borders. Find out everything you need to know to grow Foxgloves (Digitalis).
Plant Biography
BOTANICAL NAME
Digitalis, Digitalis purpurea
COMMON NAME
Foxglove
Other names include goblin gloves, witches’ gloves, and dead men’s bells.
NATIVE TO
This plant is native from western to southwestern Europe, including Sweden, and across to northern Morocco. The name ‘Digitalis’ comes from the fact the blooms look ‘finger-like’.
DESCRIPTION
These lovely garden staples produce tall spires of bell-shaped flowers and have oval-shaped hairy leaves which flower between June and September.
What type of plant is it?
Digitalis can either be perennial or biennial in the UK.
.
What colours do Foxgloves come in?
A variety, with some featuring multiple colours. But the colours you are most likely to see include yellow, pink, magenta, peach, white, and purple.
When do these plants flower?
Digitalis plants will flower between June and September, typically the second year after planting.
Where does it like to grow?
They tend to be happy in most soil types but love to have plenty of organic matter and well-draining soil. Dappled shade locations suit them well too.
Where does it dislike to grow?
These plants aren’t big fans of locations in full sun, or of dry soil. In these conditions, they are likely to exhibit signs of stunted growth. If they aren’t in a sheltered position, the tall spikes of flowers may suffer from damage too.
Is this plant drought-tolerant?
Not especially, they do not favour dry soil.
.
How to grow Foxgloves successfully
Provide the right conditions, including dappled shade, and moist but free-draining soil. Besides this, they are easy to grow successfully.
Do they require supports?
Generally, Foxgloves shouldn’t require any additional support. However, if your plants are in quite an exposed and windy position, central stems may benefit from some additional support with a bamboo cane. The same could be said for particularly tall Digitalis cultivars too.
Is it good for pollinators?
Yes, they are a particularly valuable source of pollen for bees, who make foxgloves a regular stopping point. The shape of the flowers creates the perfect landing spot for bees, particularly long-tongued bees.
.
Is it good for wildlife?
Besides the benefits to bees, no, Foxgloves have no known benefits to wildlife in the UK. Foxgloves are extremely poisonous to humans, alongside other creatures like cats and dogs.
How to choose the right variety for your garden
The first decision you would need to make is if you would prefer a biennial or perennial variety. The perennial types are more subtle than biennial types but will live for longer than the more vibrant biennial counterparts.
You should also consider the ultimate height of your Digitalis plants. Again, the height can be determined by whether the variety is biennial, which tends to reach up to 2 metres, whilst perennial varieties are much closer to 1 metre. If you live in particularly exposed and windy areas, shorter varieties are less likely to become damaged by the conditions.
How big will it get
This depends on the variety, but biennial varieties can reach around 2 metres in height, and perennial varieties 1 metre in height. The tallest you can expect a foxglove to reach is about 2 metres. There are some quite short varieties that grow closer to 50 or 60 cm too for middle-of-the-border features.
How to plant Foxgloves
Plant them out in either spring or autumn, as the soil will be moist yet warm enough for healthy root development. However, if you purchase your foxgloves in summer, make sure you plant them immediately and water them regularly to help them to establish.
Choose a spot with dappled or light shade, with organic matter dug into the soil too.
Make sure you plant them between 30 and 35 cm apart, as otherwise, they may delay their flowering due to limited space.
How to care for Foxgloves
For newly planted Digitalis plants, water regularly for the first few months, and then only during particularly long dry spells. Keep an eye on wilting leaves as a good indicator that more water is needed.
If you have particularly poor soil, make sure you annually apply a balanced granular fertiliser, like blood, fish and bone. Otherwise, your foxgloves should be fine without any additional feeding.
Do they spread?
Yes, most Foxgloves can spread by self-seeding. If you allow the flower spikes to go to seed, they will spread readily this way.
How to keep it looking good
Make sure they are watered during dry periods to avoid leaf wilt, and stake to prevent flower spikes from snapping if in exposed areas.
Do Foxgloves need deadheading?
If you don’t want your plant to go to seed, remove the flower stem at the base once the flowers have finished. However, particularly if you are growing biennial varieties, allowing your Foxgloves to go to seed will help continue the cycle of Digitalis growth in your garden.
Does it need pruning, and when should they be pruned?
Besides being cut back after flowering finishes, these plants do not require pruning.
How to propagate these plants
The best method of propagation for Digitalis plants is by seed, either by collecting the seeds yourself or allowing the plant to go to seed naturally.
You can sow your bought or collected seeds between late spring and early summer, scattering them thinly into trays of moist, peat-free compost. Don’t cover the seeds with compost, as they benefit from the natural light when trying to germinate, which takes between 2 and 3 weeks.
What problems can Foxgloves have?
There are a few pests to keep an eye on, although typically Foxgloves are problem-free.
Aphids can colonise on developing flower spikes, but these can be easily removed provided you don’t damage the young flower spikes.
Slugs and snails are quite fond of young Digitalis seedlings, so take measures to deter them. Plant some fragrant plants they don’t like such as Nasturtiums, chives, or garlic nearby, which should put them off.
You may also notice the development of powdery mildew on the leaves of your Foxglove plants. This typically won’t last long, and the plant will recover without any necessary intervention.
Varieties of Foxgloves to have
Biennial varieties
For some subtle variegated colour, Digitalis purpurea ‘Pam’s Choice’ starts cream and develops into lavender further down the spikes. With dark purple throats, these blooms are particularly eye-catching.
If you prefer a softer look, and only 60cm tall (quite petite for a biennial variety), is Digitalis purpurea ‘Dalmatian Peach’ (Dalmatian Series). It’s soft yellow-orange to peach flowers almost resemble a delicate sunset.
With curled petals instead of bell-shaped, Digitalis purpurea ‘Serendipity’ is a lovely step away from the classic foxglove look, with a charming gradient of purple to white and spots along the petals.
Perennial varieties
A lovely and delicate variety to grow is Digitalis x mertonensis, ‘Strawberry foxglove’, which is a lovely shade of pink with a red centre, emulating the look of the delicious fruit.
For a very interesting and different look, Digitalis x valinii ‘Firebird’PBR is particularly striking, with more open bell-shaped blooms resembling birds with wings spread wide.
With a more classic appearance, Digitalis purpurea subsp. heywoodii has creamy-white flowers which are lovely in a charming cottage garden.
Best time of year to buy this plant
You can typically buy the plants throughout the year, although you are unlikely to find established plants in the winter. Seeds, however, can easily be purchased year-round.
The best garden design style for this plant
These plants are very often found in cottage gardens and are staples of that style. They can also be grown in the right conditions in container gardens, and woodland-style gardens.
Find out how to grow Jasmine:
Or check out my Pinterest board for more ideas:
David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
Leave A Comment