Foxgloves(Digitalis Purpurea)

Foxglove Love

Foxgloves. Flowers from a fairy tale in name and looks. The tiny foxglove seeds are so light and fine they could be fairy dust.

I imagine a watercolor storybook of a fox wearing a top hat and vest who's misplaced his gloves. And accusing all the woodland creatures of hiding them.

Well. Back to the foxgloves of this realm. Foxgloves naturally grow at the edge of woodlands. In a zone 7a garden, plant them where the soil doesn't dry out. Morning sun is best. I grew them along the northeast wall of a brick house. The foxgloves and I loved it.

Gardeners covet white foxgloves. I love all the colors. So I don’t mind magenta, magenta haters. The white foxgloves have no interior freckles that lead insects to the pollen. Freckles are part of foxgloves’ charm.

Foxgloves are semi rare in gardens. They're rarely for sale as plants. Such is the life of biennial plants.

But they're easily grown from seed. Ahem. If you'd winter sown them (as my winter sowing guide suggested), you'd be ahead. You'd be planting the seedling that'll soon be an overwintering rosette of leaves. Then... BAM! Foxglove flowers in spring.

If you didn't winter sow foxgloves, you'll sow the seeds when it's hot. When the last thing you're thinking about is sowing seeds. And coddling seedlings. Unless you're hardcore. Such is the way of growing biennials.

Here's my solution: find a bare patch of soil, direct sow, mark the area and see what happens. Foxglove seeds are cheap for the amount of seeds per packet. Foxgloves don't have dandelion like roots that grow to the center of the earth. They're easy to transplant and usually survive the operation.

Indulge your inner child. Make sure Mr. or Ms. Fox is never without a pair of gloves. Or fairies have a place to nap. Grow foxgloves.

Caution: All plant parts are poisonous if ingested.

Why Grow Foxgloves?

• Beautiful flowers

• Old fashioned yet unusual in gardens

• Cottage garden favorite

• Cheap seeds

• Easy to grow

• Fill the flower gap between spring bulbs and hardy annuals, perennials and roses

• Biennial but will perennialize in zone 7a (don't let seeds form)

• Happily self seeds if you want/need lots of foxgloves (let seeds dry on the plant)

• Basal foliage overwinters covering bare soil; greening up quickly as the weather warms

• Bumble bees love them

All good reasons to grow foxgloves and other nearly forgotten biennials (dame's rocket, sweet william, canterbury bells and honesty). If only you put aside instant gratification.