D. purpurea is suited to cultivation as a biennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9, and as an annual in all temperate zones. It grows as a short-lived perennial wildflower in coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest.
Let’s meet common foxglove!
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Cultivation and History
In 1755, English doctor William Withering used a folk remedy to treat a patient with a heart problem.
As the story goes, he obtained the remedy it from an elderly herbalist, one of many who had been using a concoction containing D. purpurea for years to treat wounds and dropsy – the swelling of the hands and feet that we now know is characteristic of certain heart conditions.
The doctor continued to experiment with foxglove leaf extracts, and by 1785 had introduced a treatment that eased angina heart pain.
At the same time, in Ireland, the anti-inflammatory properties of D. purpurea were also being studied.
In 1790, Charles William Quin, Physician General to His Majesty’s Army in Ireland, published “A Treatise on Dropsy of the Brain Illustrated by a Variety of Cases.”
The plant’s use as an anti-inflammatory heart medication evolved, and today we have a thriving commercial cultivation of D. purpurea for use in making digitalis, a drug prescribed to treat congestive heart failure and atrial arrhythmias. It works by increasing blood flow and decreasing hand and ankle swelling.
Many folks grow it simply for the statuesque beauty of its tall stalks, laden with large, intricately-detailed blossoms favored by nectar-seeking pollinators.
You may have thought foxglove was a perennial. That’s because it’s a prolific self-sower.
It is in fact a biennial. That means that in the first year, it grows a tight clump of lance-shaped leaves with shallowly scalloped margins at its base. This is called a rosette.
In the second year, the flower stalk rises from the rosette, followed by budding, blooming, and seed dispersal.
The exceptions to the second-year bloom are hybrids such as ‘Camelot’ and ‘Foxy’ that bloom in the first year and grow as annuals. However, since they self-sow, they still give the impression of being perennials.
Mature heights range from 18 to 60 inches, with a spread of 12 to 18 inches. Foxglove stems are very sturdy, and prized by many a floral designer.
The flowers are two to three inches long and hang downward like bells, attracting bees and hummingbirds that love to dive into their sweet depths.
Blossoms open from the bottom to the top of the flower stalk.
Ideal growing conditions include a location with part shade. Plants thrive in heat and humidity, provided they receive moderate moisture and are not overcrowded.
I have had good luck with them here in muggy southeastern Pennsylvania.
Bloom time ranges from early spring to first frost. As biennials, plants winter over in the first year before they bloom and set seed the second year.
Good drainage is essential, as roots are prone to rotting in saturated winter soil.
Foxglove Plant Propagation
You may start from seed or purchase nursery plants.
Seeds yield variable results, because seeds from hybrids do not replicate the traits of parent plants, and may even be sterile.
Nursery plants provide more certainty as to what you are going to get, with knowable characteristics.
From Seed
To propagate foxgloves this way, you’ll need to purchase seeds or collect them from a friend’s plant. Learn how to save foxglove seeds for next year here.
You can direct sow seeds in the garden after the danger of spring frost has passed.
Moisten the soil and sprinkle several seeds every 12 to 18 inches. Do not cover, as they need light to germinate.
Maintain even moisture for the next two to three weeks while seeds germinate.
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When seedlings have two or more sets of true leaves, thin them out to a distance of 12 to 18 inches to accommodate mature dimensions.
Proper spacing promotes good air circulation and inhibits fungal disease.
Alternatively, start seeds indoors six weeks before the last average spring frost date and transplant them to the garden after all danger of frost has passed.
Before you plant out, acclimate seeds started indoors to the outdoors.
To do this, set them outside in a sheltered, partially shaded place for a few hours each day for four or five days.
Take care not to overwater them to avoid damping off, a fungal disease that thrives in cool, wet environments and kills seedlings.
Transplant the seedlings to the garden at 12- to 18-inch intervals. Keep the soil level of the seedling container even with the ground soil level to minimize transplant stress.
Tamp the soil gently around the seedlings and water them in well.
You may also direct sow seeds in late summer, at the same time they would naturally disperse.
From Nursery Starts or Transplants
Transplant from nursery pots to the garden after the last average spring frost date has passed.
If your nursery sells plants in late summer to early fall, you can also plant them out then.
To transplant, carefully work the plants out of their containers.
Set them into the soil so that the surface of the pot soil is even with the ground soil surface, for a smooth transition. Maintain spacing of 12 to 18 inches between plants.
Tamp the soil down around the plants and water in well.
Keep in mind that some cultivated varieties behave as annuals and bloom in the first year, while others are biennial or short-lived perennials that bloom the second year after experiencing a winter chill.
In addition, note that plants may cross-pollinate in the garden, causing color dominance or variations in the next generation.
Additionally, sometimes plants that bloom in the first year may bloom again in the second, so you may want to keep the plants in place at season’s end.
How to Grow Foxglove Flowers
When you have either seeds or plants in hand, you’re ready to find them a home and get growing.
Select a location that gets morning sun and afternoon shade, particularly if you’re in a region with hot summer afternoons. In cooler regions, you may be able to plant in full sun.
The soil should be organically rich and well-draining. Mix in some sand or leaf mulch to loosen dense soil, and create a loamy consistency.
Work the garden soil to a depth of six to 12 inches.
Foxgloves prefer a slightly acidic environment, so conduct a soil test to determine the pH and nutrient levels of your soil.
A pH of 5.5 to 6.5 is ideal. Amend as needed.
Maintain even moisture during the growing season, but do not oversaturate. If it does not rain at least an inch per week, provide supplemental water.
Growing Tips
- Provide slightly acidic soil that is organically rich and drains well.
- Do not cover the tiny seeds; they need light to germinate.
- Space plants 12 to 18 inches to maintain good airflow.
Maintenance
There is a moderate amount of work to do to keep this plant in tip-top shape.
With mature heights of 18 to 60 inches, the stalks are likely to need staking, especially during wind and rain events.
If you don’t want your plants to self-sow, cut fresh stems to bring indoors or deadhead spent stems throughout the growing season.
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This is a plant that likes to be kept moist, but not soggy. If it doesn’t rain at least once a week, provide supplemental irrigation.
In the early spring, add a two-inch layer of mulch to aid in water retention during the growing season. You may want to leave it in place during the winter months to help keep the roots warm.
However, if drainage is not good, the mulch may cause water to pool as the ground thaws and freezes, leading to root rot.
Some folks like to apply a well-balanced fertilizer, like a 5-10-5 (NPK), in early spring in the second year. A slow-acting granular product is best. Sprinkle it sparingly on the soil a few inches away from the new growth, and water.
If you are planting in organically-rich soil, fertilizer is not required.
In cooler regions, I do not recommend growing foxglove in containers, as biennials have a tendency to be very sensitive to damp conditions in winter, and pots that thaw and freeze repeatedly are likely to contribute to the rotting of roots.
You can learn more about growing foxglove in containers in this guide. (coming soon!)
Managing Pests and Disease
For the best resistance to insects and infections, use quality purveyors for all your garden needs. Keep your equipment sanitized and your beds and borders tidy.
Be sure the soil drains well to avoid damp conditions that encourage pests like slugs and snails, and soil-borne fungal conditions, such as crown rot.
A preventative measure you can take against pests in the soil is to apply diatomaceous earth at planting time per package instructions.
As for the slimy little guys, handpick them, or set traps.
Space plants 12 to 18 inches or more, and keep the garden free from weeds and plant debris, to promote air circulation between plants and deter aggressive sap-sucking bugs like aphids, mealybugs, and Japanese beetles.
Handpick the bugs, or spray plants with a hose to dislodge them.
If all else fails, treat plants with neem oil, horticultural oil, or insecticidal soap.
Overcrowding creates a breeding ground for fungal and bacterial conditions like powdery mildew and leaf spot, more reasons to provide adequate spacing and keep the weeds down.
Treat fungal outbreaks with foliar applications of fungicides.
As for wildlife, foxglove is one plant rabbits don’t nibble and deer leave alone.
Best Uses for Common Foxglove
With its impressive heights and blossom-laden stalks, D. purpurea makes a bold architectural statement in the garden.
Because the flowers open from the bottom up, it’s nice to have companion plants in the foreground to cover lower stems that have finished blooming.
Use plants in rear-position foundation plantings, to draw the eye up nondescript walls to pretty windows above.
Pair foxgloves with companions that share their love of moist, organically-rich, slightly acidic soil and partial shade.
Offset the pointed clusters with the round heads of drumstick alliums, feathery plumes of astilbe, or spikes of salvia.
Give it room to naturalize in a cottage garden with flouncy Floribunda roses and ethereal poppies for more contrasts in form and texture.
Let it meander through woodland settings and shady borders, naturalizing with each year’s seed dispersal.
Add it to the cutting garden for a ready supply of robust, attractive stems that last a week or more in a vase.
You’ll enjoy an added benefit when you introduce D. purpurea to the garden, as it’s a magnet for pollinating bees and hummingbirds.
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Plant Type:Herbaceous biennialFlower / Foliage Color:Cream, pink, purple, red, yellow, white/green Native to:Europe, Mediterranean, Canary IslandsMaintenance:Moderate Hardiness (USDA Zone):4-9Soil Type:Organically-rich Bloom Time / Season:Late spring to summerSoil pH:5.5-6.5 Exposure:Part shadeSoil Drainage:Well-draining Spacing:12-18 inchesAttracts:Bees, hummingbirds Planting Depth:Surface sow (seeds)Companion Planting:Astilbe, allium, Floribunda rose, poppy, salvia Height:18-60 inchesUses:Beds, borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, foundation plantings, naturalize, shade gardens, woodland gardens Spread:12-18 inchesOrder:Lamiales Time to Maturity:2 years (some cultivars bloom the first year)Family:Plantaginaceae Water Needs:ModerateGenus:Digitalis Tolerance:Deer, rabbitsSpecies:purpurea Common Pests:Aphids, Japanese beetles, mealybugs, slugs, snailsCommon Diseases:Crown rot, leaf spot, powdery mildew
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