Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea · Flower

Quick answer: Water: When the top 1 in is dry (estimated); keep soil moist but not soggy, about 1 in per week (estimated). Light: Full sun to partial shade; happiest in light shade. Soil: Humus-rich, moist but well-drained; acid to alkaline. Pets: The ASPCA lists foxglove as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. It contains cardiac glycosides, which affect the heart; listed signs include abnormal heart rhythm, vomiting, diarrhea and weakness, and poisoning can lead to heart failure and death. If a pet chews any part of the plant, contact your vet or an animal poison control service right away.

A stately cottage-garden plant with tall spires of tubular, spotted flowers loved by bees. It forms a leafy rosette in the first year and flowers in the second. Every part of the plant is highly poisonous, so place it with care if children or pets use the garden.

Care at a glance

Light

Full sun to partial shade; happiest in light shade

Water

Keep soil moist but not soggy, about 1 in per week (estimated)

Soil

Humus-rich, moist but well-drained; acid to alkaline

Temperature

Very cold-hardy, USDA zones 4–9; survives below −4 °F

Spacing

About 18 in apart

Container

At least 12 in deep (estimated)

Bloom

Early summer of the second year; spikes 3–4 ft tall

Lifespan

Biennial or short-lived perennial

When?

Sow outdoors in late summer for flowers the next year, or sow in trays in late spring and plant out in late summer. Nursery plants can go in after the last spring frost.

Step by step

1. Wear gloves when sowing, handling or cutting; the sap can irritate skin and all parts are toxic if eaten.
2. Scatter seed on the surface and press it in lightly; it needs light to germinate, so do not cover it.
3. Thin or plant seedlings about 18 in apart.
4. Choose a spot with light shade and soil that is neither very wet nor very dry.
5. Keep the soil moist during dry spells, watering at the base.
6. Expect only a leafy rosette in the first year; flower spikes come in the second summer.
7. Cut spent spikes to encourage later side stems, or leave a few to self-seed.
8. Keep it away from vegetable beds and herb patches so leaves are never mistaken for edible greens.

Common problems

Pets

The ASPCA lists foxglove as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. It contains cardiac glycosides, which affect the heart; listed signs include abnormal heart rhythm, vomiting, diarrhea and weakness, and poisoning can lead to heart failure and death. If a pet chews any part of the plant, contact your vet or an animal poison control service right away.

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