Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is a tall, biennial flowering plant in the plantain family. It is native to Europe, but has been naturalized in many parts of the world. The plant has a rosette of basal leaves and can reach up to 1.5 meters in height when in bloom. The flowers are tubular, in shades of purple, pink, yellow, and white, and bloom in the late spring and early summer. Foxglove is a popular garden flower and is also grown commercially for its medicinal properties. The leaves and flowers contain cardiac glycosides, which are used to make digitalis, a heart medication.
Planning Your Garden With Foxgloves
As you plan your garden, it's important to think about the spacing, size, light, and nutrient requirements of all of your plant and how they'll grow together.
Some plants require more water than others, while other plants require dry soil. At the same time, some plants prefer full sun, and other plants need the shade to survive.
By studying what each plant requires and planning ahead where all of your plants will grow best, you can optimize your garden space.
| Life Cycle | Foxgloves are usually biennial, meaning they flower in their second year and then die. |
| USDA Zone | Foxgloves are hardy in USDA zones 4-8. |
| Cold Tolerance | Foxgloves are not very cold tolerant and can be damaged by temperatures below freezing. They can survive in temperatures as low as 32 for short periods of time. |
| Days to harvest | Foxgloves typically take between 60 and 90 days to reach maturity and be ready for harvest. |
| Average size | The average size of a full grown foxglove plant is between 3 and 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. |
| Spacing requirements | Foxgloves prefer full sun to part shade, and they should be spaced 12 to 18 inches apart. |
| Sun tolerance | Foxgloves are best grown in partial shade or dappled shade. They do not tolerate full sun and can easily get sunburned. |
| Shade tolerance | Foxgloves are generally shade tolerant and can grow in partial shade or full sun. They do best in areas with some dappled shade, especially during the hottest times of the day. |
| Water requirements | Foxgloves prefer moist, well-drained soil with regular watering. They should be watered deeply, but not too often, about once a week or so. The soil should be kept moist but not soggy. Foxgloves also benefit from a light misting of water every few days during hot, dry spells. |
| Fertilizer | Foxgloves are a low-maintenance plant and do not require much fertilizer. A light application of a balanced fertilizer once a year is usually sufficient. |
| Soil pH | Foxgloves prefer a slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. |
Why Foxgloves are Popular
People like to grow foxgloves because they are a beautiful flower with tall spires of colorful blooms. They are also attractive to pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Foxgloves are also easy to grow and can be grown in a variety of soils and climates.
Companion Plants For Foxgloves
Companion planting is a great way to maximize your garden space and get the most out of your plants. By planting certain plants together, you can help each other thrive. In some cases, you can even help each other repel pests.
Popular companion plants for foxgloves include:
Common Pests For Foxgloves
Plant pests are a common problem for gardeners. By understanding what pests are common for your plants, you can take steps to prevent them from damaging your plants.
When you grow foxgloves, keep an eye out for these common pests:
- slugs
- aphids
- whiteflies
- spider mites
USDA Zones
USDA zones are a popular way of determining which plants can grow in your area. Zones tell you when your average first and last frost date are, as well as how cold you can expect it to get in the winter.
Our site works best if you choose your zone from the list below. If you do not know your USDA zone, then you can use our zone map.
