Key Facts
- Biennial or short lived perennial that commonly flowers in its second year.
- Tall flowering spikes of tubular bell shaped flowers in purple, pink, white and speckled forms.
- Attracts bees and other pollinators.
- Contains cardiac glycosides that are toxic if ingested.
- Easily grown from seed and often self seeds.
- Prefers cool summer climates and can decline in very hot, humid conditions.
- Prefers moist, humus rich, well drained soil.
Foxglove is a biennial or short lived perennial grown for tall spikes of tubular bell shaped flowers that attract bees. Handle and site it with care because all plant parts contain cardiac glycosides and are poisonous if ingested.
Identification
Plants form a basal rosette the first year and produce 2 to 5 foot flowering spikes in the second year. Flowers are tubular and bell shaped with colors from purple and pink to white and speckled forms. Clumps typically span about 1 to 2 feet and plants often self seed around the parent.
Where to grow and best uses
Best in temperate garden borders, cottage beds and naturalized patches where cool summers prevail. Hardy roughly in USDA zones 4 to 9 with best performance in cooler summer climates. Use where tall vertical flower spikes are wanted and when pollinator attraction is a priority while keeping toxic risk away from children and pets.
Planting time and spacing
Foxglove is most often started from seed and commonly flowers in its second year, so plan for an establishment year. Space plants to match their clump forming habit, roughly 12 to 24 inches or 30 to 60 centimeters apart, which gives room for rosettes to form and for air to circulate around flowering spikes.
Soil and watering
Grow in moist, humus rich, well drained soil with neutral to slightly acidic pH. Avoid waterlogged sites because poor drainage can cause crown rot and plant loss. Very dry soils reduce vigor and flowering, so maintain even moisture during the growing season for best bloom production.
After flowering and maintenance
Cut back spent flower spikes to tidy the bed and to reduce volunteer seedlings if you do not want the plant to naturalize. Leave some seedheads if you want plants to self seed. Division is not commonly used, but remove weak rosettes and replace with new plants raised from seed or basal cuttings for earlier blooms.
Controlling spread and naturalizing
Plants readily self seed and will expand over time by volunteer seedlings rather than by spreading roots. To control spread, remove flower spikes before seeds ripen or pull seedlings while small. Allowing some seed to mature will naturalize a patch and provide recurring displays without replanting.
Propagation
Easily grown from seed and frequently self seeds in garden settings. For earlier flowering use basal cuttings taken in spring. If saving seed note that open pollinated seed may not come true to a named cultivar, so expect some variation among seedlings.
Toxicity and safety
All plant parts are poisonous if ingested and contain cardiac glycosides such as digitoxin and digoxin. Toxicity affects humans and animals including dogs, cats and horses. Wear gloves if you are sensitive to plant sap and keep plants away from areas where children or pets might chew foliage. For exposures contact local poison control or a medical professional.
Frequently asked questions
- How fast does Foxglove grow?
- It usually produces a rosette the first year and sends up 2 to 5 foot flower spikes in its second year. Growth to flowering height occurs by the second season under normal conditions.
- Is Foxglove perennial or biennial?
- It is commonly a biennial or a short lived perennial. Some plants behave as short lived perennials depending on cultivar and site conditions.
- When does it bloom?
- Flowering typically occurs in late spring to mid summer, with timing shifting earlier in warm climates and later in cooler sites.
- Does it self seed?
- Yes. It readily self seeds and will expand a planting over time unless spent flowers are removed before seed set.
- What soil does it prefer?
- Moist, humus rich, well drained soil with neutral to slightly acidic pH. Poor drainage can lead to crown rot and plant loss.
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