Every spring, when the foxgloves bloom, I feel like I’ve stepped into a storybook. Their tall spires, dotted with delicate bell-shaped flowers, have an enchanting quality that transforms the garden into something almost otherworldly. These flowers, with their striking vertical presence, belong in any garden that leans toward whimsy, but growing them successfully takes a bit of know-how. Over the years, I’ve learned their quirks, from how to coax blooms in different climates to which plants make the best neighbors.
Let me share what I’ve discovered about growing foxgloves and, more importantly, how to make them truly shine in your garden.
Quickly Find Foxglove Flower Growing Tips:
Choosing the Right Varieties of Foxglove
Foxglove (Digitalis spp.) comes in a range of varieties, each offering a unique color palette and growing habit. Choosing the right type depends on your climate, garden design, and whether you prefer annuals or perennials.
Popular Varieties:
- Common Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea): The classic biennial foxglove with tall spires of pink, purple, or white blooms. It’s perfect for cottage gardens and self-seeds readily.
- Strawberry Foxglove (Digitalis x mertonensis): A hardy perennial hybrid with soft pink blooms and a more compact form.
- Grecian Foxglove (Digitalis lanata): Known for its creamy-white blooms and medicinal properties. It’s more heat-tolerant than some other varieties.
When planning your garden, consider mixing varieties to extend the bloom period and create layers of color and height.
When and How to Plant Foxglove
Timing is everything when it comes to planting foxglove. I’ve found that sowing seeds in late summer or early fall leads to the best blooms the following year, especially with biennial varieties.
Planting Tips:
- Fall Sowing: Sow seeds in late summer or early fall to overwinter in the garden. This mimics their natural life cycle.
- Spring Sowing: Start seeds indoors in early spring if you missed fall planting. Transplant seedlings after the last frost.
Foxglove seeds need light to germinate, so don’t bury them too deeply. I sprinkle the seeds on the soil surface and lightly press them down. Keep the soil consistently moist until the seedlings establish.
Growing Conditions for Thriving Foxglove Plants
Foxgloves have a mysterious duality about them. They look delicate but can handle cooler weather with surprising resilience. Still, they don’t like extreme heat, and they prefer their feet to be cool and their heads in dappled sunlight—like woodland creatures peeking out from under a canopy.
Ideal Conditions:
- Sunlight: Partial shade is best, especially in hot climates. In cooler areas, they can tolerate full sun.
- Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter. I always add a layer of compost before planting to mimic woodland conditions.
- Spacing: Provide at least 12-18 inches between plants to allow for air circulation and healthy growth.
Companion Planting with Foxglove: The Perfect Garden Pairings
Foxgloves don’t like to stand alone. Their tall, spindly stems benefit from the visual and physical support of other plants, and their presence in the garden can enhance the health and beauty of those around them. Here’s a breakdown of my favorite companions for foxglove and why they work so well together.
1. Roses: A Classic Pairing for Cottage Charm
There’s something magical about roses and foxgloves together. It’s as if they belong to the same romantic painting, their blooms complementing each other effortlessly. The softness of rose petals balances the vertical spikes of foxgloves, and both share a love for well-drained, fertile soil.
The trick is to plant foxgloves just behind your rose bushes. They’ll grow tall enough to peek out from behind the roses, creating a layered look that feels both wild and intentional. Plus, foxgloves attract bees, which are essential for pollinating roses.
Gardener’s Tip: Choose climbing roses for added height, and let them weave around the foxgloves for a fairytale effect.
2. Lavender: A Fragrant and Practical Companion
Lavender and foxglove may seem like an odd pair at first—lavender prefers sunny, dry conditions, while foxglove leans toward partial shade. But in my experience, they can share a garden bed if you position them just right.
I plant lavender on the sunnier edge of the bed and foxglove toward the back, where they get a bit more shade. The contrast between the soft spikes of lavender and the towering foxglove blooms is stunning. The bonus? Lavender’s fragrance can help deter pests that might otherwise bother your foxgloves.
Gardener’s Tip: Be careful not to overwater the lavender side of the bed. Foxgloves like moisture, but lavender doesn’t.
3. Hostas: A Perfect Understory Companion
Foxgloves love having their roots kept cool, and hostas are brilliant at providing shade at ground level. The broad, leafy hostas create a lush, green carpet that not only keeps the soil moist but also offers a textural contrast to the tall, delicate foxglove spikes.
In my garden, I’ve planted foxgloves in clusters, surrounded by hostas. The result is a layered look with the foxglove blooms rising above a sea of green. It’s a woodland-inspired combination that thrives in shaded areas.
Gardener’s Tip: Choose hosta varieties with variegated leaves to add more visual interest.
4. Delphiniums and Hollyhocks: Creating a Vertical Symphony
If you’re going for height in your garden, you can’t go wrong with delphiniums, hollyhocks, and foxgloves together. These towering plants complement each other beautifully, creating a vertical symphony of color and texture.
I like to mix colors—soft blues from delphiniums, pinks from hollyhocks, and purples or whites from foxgloves. The result is a dynamic display that looks like something you’d find in an old English cottage garden.
Gardener’s Tip: Stake all three plants to keep them upright during windy days, especially if you’re planting them in an open area.
5. Ferns and Astilbes: Perfect for Shady Corners
In the shadier parts of my garden, foxgloves stand tall among ferns and astilbes. This trio creates a soft, woodland vibe that feels peaceful and serene. The ferns’ feathery fronds provide a lush backdrop, while astilbes add fluffy plumes of color at the base.
This combination thrives in areas with dappled light, like under a tree or near a shaded fence. The key is to make sure the soil stays consistently moist.
Gardener’s Tip: Add a layer of mulch to keep the moisture in and reduce the need for frequent watering.
6. Dill and Fennel: For a Cottage Garden with a Twist
Here’s a fun one—pairing foxgloves with herbs like dill and fennel. Both herbs have feathery foliage that contrasts beautifully with the tall, structured spikes of foxglove. Plus, they attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings, which can help keep your garden healthy.
I particularly love how fennel’s yellow blooms pop against the pastel shades of foxglove flowers. It’s an unexpected pairing that always draws compliments from visitors.
Gardener’s Tip: Keep fennel and dill in check, as they can spread quickly if left to their own devices.
7. Marigolds: A Pest-Repelling Powerhouse
For practical gardeners, marigolds are an excellent companion for foxgloves. Their bright blooms add a cheerful touch, but more importantly, they help keep aphids and other pests at bay.
I like to tuck marigolds near the base of my foxgloves. Their low-growing habit doesn’t compete with the tall spikes, and they add a burst of color at soil level.
Gardener’s Tip: Stick to traditional marigolds in yellow or orange for a warm, harmonious color palette.
Protecting Foxglove Flowers: Keep Them Healthy and Happy
Once your foxgloves are established, they don’t need much fussing. However, their height makes them prone to wind damage. I’ve learned to stake them early, before they reach full height. It’s much easier to guide a plant when it’s still young.
Another tip—watch out for slugs and aphids. Slugs love to munch on tender leaves, so I set up beer traps or sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the base. For aphids, a simple spray of soapy water or neem oil keeps them in check.
Final Throughts
Foxglove flowers bring a sense of magic to any garden. They’re the kind of plant that makes you pause and admire their beauty, even if you’ve seen them bloom a hundred times before. Whether paired with classic roses or unexpected herbs, foxgloves have a way of elevating the garden’s charm and inviting nature’s helpers to your space.
Grow them once, and they’ll self-seed, surprising you year after year with their whimsical return—a little gift from the garden to you