How to Care for Foxgloves
Foxgloves are bell-shaped flowers that grow along stems that are up to six feet tall. They're biennials, so that means they won't make flowers until they are 2 years old. The first year they'll grow a rosette of leaves that will die down to the roots over winter. The second year they'll send up a flower spike and long, lance-shaped leaves. The flowers will bloom in late spring and early summer. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Caring for Foxgloves
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Choose the site for your foxgloves. Plant them in partial to mostly shade in rich, well-drained soil. Because they grow to a height of two to six feet, locate foxglove in the back of your flower garden.
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Sow seeds in the garden where they are to grow. Seeds need light to germinate, so lightly press the seeds into the soil but don't cover them. Water or mist daily so seeds remain moist until they germinate.
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3
Thin the seedlings when they are about three inches high so they stand one to 1 ½ feet apart. Correct spacing is important so that air can circulate around the plants. Foxglove are susceptible to powdery mildew, which is a white powdery looking substance on the leaves and flowers. Good air circulation will help prevent this.
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Keep them watered and weeded during their first year of growth. Because they're biennials, they won't flower until their second year. When the leaves die down in fall, cover the base of the plants with fallen leaves or hay.
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Remove their mulch in early spring as soon as temperatures are above freezing during the day. Remove any weeds and water if there's no rainfall.
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Foxglove bloom in late spring or early summer. Pinch off faded flowers to prolong their blooming season. When they are finished flowering, cut the flower stems off at the base of the plant. In some cases, they will live for another year or two.
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Tips & Warnings
All parts of foxglove are poisonous and a very small amount can be fatal to both humans and animals.
