Flowers · Perennials and shrubs
Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea
A biennial with a rosette of soft leaves and, in its second year, a tall spire of pink-purple bells. It sows itself in light shade. All parts are poisonous.
Growing conditions
Soilclay, loam, sand
Moisturemoist, well-drained
pHacid, neutral
Position
SunPartial sun, Shade
Aspectnorth, east, west
Exposuresheltered
HardinessH6
Size
Time to maturityFlowers in the second year from seed
Max height1.2–1.8 m
Max spread0.4–0.5 m
In the garden
Sow in early summer, or plant rosettes in autumn where they are to flower the next year. Let a few spikes set seed if you want it to continue.
Moth caterpillars can mark the leaves. Little else stops it in a moist, partly shaded spot.
Colour and scent
A mark in a season means the plant is doing that for at least part of it.
| Season | Foliage | Flower | Scent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Leaves | — | — |
| Summer | Leaves | pink-purple | — |
| Autumn | Leaves | — | — |
| Winter | — | — | — |
- JanDormant
- FebDormant
- MarFoliage
- AprFoliage
- MayFoliage
- Junpink-purple
- Julpink-purple
- AugFoliage
- SepFoliage
- OctFoliage
- NovDormant
- DecDormant
Jobs
These dates suit a mild southern garden. A northern or Scottish plan shifts spring and autumn jobs by a fortnight.
20 June
Sow seed
Sow foxglove thinly outdoors in late spring. Transplant the rosettes in autumn.
30 July
Stake tall spikes
A single cane keeps the flower stem upright on a windy site. Leave one spike to seed.