Appearance
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) starts as a tight rosette of coarse leaves that remains low and close to the ground. In the second year, an upright flower stem with small leaves emerges from the center of the clump. The spikes grow 3 to 4 feet tall with 20 to 80 individual bell-shaped flowers ranging in color from purple tints to rose and purely white. Some flower varieties even have marks and spots.
Use
Beloved by hummingbirds and bumblebees, foxglove flowers also make for a great background or bedding plant. They are perfect for adding bold, vertical dimension to flower beds and shade gardens, especially on a solid background where the flowers can really show their stuff. The cut flower spikes also are great for bouquets.
Grow
According to the LSU AgCenter’s Bedding Plants for Louisiana Landscapes, foxglove should be planted in areas that get full sun to light shade. While foxglove seeds should be sown in late summer (and left uncovered so they can germinate), seedlings can be transplanted November through March. Seeds and transplants should be spaced about 16 inches apart. Foxglove prefers soil that is moist and high in organic matter, but it will grow in almost any soil that isn’t too dry or wet. Beware of powdery mildew and aphids.
Learn
This biennial (short-lived herbaceous perennial) flowers during its second year and then dies after seeding. Foxglove is native to Europe, the Mediterranean region and the Canary Islands.
Lagniappe
All parts of the foxglove plant are toxic if ingested.
