(Digitalis purpurea var. ‘Foxglove’)
Foxglove is a biennial/short lived perennial flower that is native to eastern Europe but can be commonly found growing in open woods, woodland clearings, moorland and heath margins, sea-cliffs, rocky mountain slopes and hedge banks throughout the northeastern and northwestern United States. At maturity, this plant features thick, textured leaves at the base and tall spikes of tubular, dangling 2-3” blossoms of rose pink or purple with tiny contrasting spots. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer and rabbits, and is great as a cut flower!
Genus: Digitalis
Species: purpurea
Variety: Foxglove
Also Known As: Common Foxglove, Purple Foxglove, Finger Flower, Fairy Glove, Lady’s Glove, and Fairy Thimbles.
Native to: Belgium, Corse, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Morocco, Portugal, Sardegna, Spain, Sweden.
Introduced into: Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Arkansas, Austria, Azores, Baltic States, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, British Columbia, California, Canary Is., Central European Rus, Chile Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Colombia, Colorado, Connecticut, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, East European Russia, East Himalaya, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hungary, Idaho, Jamaica, Korea, Krym, Kuril Is., Madeira, Maine, Malawi, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Michigan, Montana, Netherlands, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Newfoundland, North Carolina, Northwest European R, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Peru, Poland, Québec, Réunion, Sakhalin, South European Russi, Ukraine, Uruguay, Utah, Venezuela, Vermont, Vietnam, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Zimbabwe.
Grown as: Biennial
Maturity (Bloom): Summer
Crops: Spring, Summer
Growing Conditions: This plant prefers light, moist soil and partial shade but can tolerate full sun with adequate moisture.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 60°F - 90°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 70°F. Foxglove needs warm (60ºF - 70ºF) soil.
Start Outdoors: Yes
Small Gardens?: Yes
Light: Sun. Partial Shade.
Water: This plant prefers consistently moist soil that drains well, since soggy soil can cause disease. Water well especially in dry periods; a layer of mulch may help conserve moisture.
Attracts beneficial insects?: Yes
Height: 48-60"
Spacing: 18-24"
Sow Depth: On soil surface.
USDA Grow Zone: 4a-8b
Produces: thick, textured leaves at the base and tall spikes of tubular, dangling 2-3” blossoms of rose pink or purple with tiny contrasting spots.
While some flowers may at first seem attractive when matched with the Foxglove, consider that the plant grows an average of 2 to 3 feet tall. Ground covers like Creeping Phlox and Alyssum will look better as border plants or next to shorter plants. Aim for the companion flowers to be at least 8 inches tall, and your Foxgloves will look great when blended in with them.
Suggested Varieties
(Zinnia elegans var. ‘Canary Bird’)
Canary Bird Zinnia is an annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be found growing in the southern and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features hairy upright branching stems, 5” lance-shaped green leaves, and 4-5” bright yellow dahlia-type flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, earwigs, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Zinnia elegans var. ‘Cherry Queen’)
Cherry Queen Zinnia is an annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be found growing in the southern and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features hairy upright branching stems, 5” lance-shaped green leaves, and 4-5” bright red dahlia-type flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, earwigs, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Zinnia elegans var. ‘Exquisite’)
Exquisite Zinnia is an annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be found growing in the southern and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features hairy upright branching stems, 5” lance-shaped green leaves, and 4-5” bright red dahlia-type flowers that fade to soft rose pink. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, earwigs, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Zinnia elegans var. ‘Luminosa’)
Luminosa Zinnia is an annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be found growing in the southern and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features hairy upright branching stems, 5” lance-shaped green leaves, and 4-5” bright pink dahlia-type flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, earwigs, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Zinnia elegans var. ‘Orange King’)
Orange King Zinnia is an annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be found growing in the southern and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features hairy upright branching stems, 5” lance-shaped green leaves, and 4-5” bright orange dahlia-type flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, earwigs, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Zinnia elegans var. ‘Polar Bear’)
Polar Bear Zinnia is an annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be found growing in the southern and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features hairy upright branching stems, 5” lance-shaped green leaves, and 4-5” bright white dahlia-type flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, earwigs, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Centaurea cyanus var. ‘Dwarf Blue’)
Dwarf Blue Cornflower is an annual flower that is native to Europe that can be found growing in open fields and along railroads from coast to coast of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 1-3' and features grayish green, blade-like foliage and long stems topped by a 1” circlet of tiny lavender blue flowers with a darker center. This plant attracts bees and butterflies, provides bird forage, tolerates drought and frost, makes dye, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Centaurea cyanus var. ‘Tall Blue’)
Tall Blue Cornflower is an annual flower that is native to Europe that can be found growing in open fields and along railroads from coast to coast of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 1-3' and features grayish green, blade-like foliage and long stems topped by a 1” circlet of tiny lavender blue flowers with a darker center. This plant attracts bees and butterflies, provides bird forage, tolerates drought and frost, makes dye, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Centaurea cyanus var. ‘Tall Pink’)
Tall Pink Cornflower is an annual flower that is native to Europe that can be found growing in open fields and along railroads from coast to coast of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 1-3' and features grayish green, blade-like foliage and long stems topped by a 1-1½” circlet of tiny pale pink flowers with a darker pink center. This plant attracts bees and butterflies, provides bird forage, tolerates drought and frost, makes dye, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!