This native British wildflower of open woodland grades is popular with bees and butterflies. Grows to 1m tall and 45cm across in partial shade or full sun and a moist but well-drained soil. Produces spikes of purple pink flowers from May to July in its second year.
After planting, foxgloves spend their first year rooting in, growing leaves and building up strength, and then flower in the following spring.
This plant will gently self-seed and naturalise in your garden if you leave the main flowering spike to drop its seeds. Alternatively, remove the main flowering spike before it flowers to get higher numbers of side shoots and flowering spikes.
Caution: poisonous if eaten.
(Foxgloves are a secondary foodplant for caterpillars of the Heath Fritillary but this butterfly isn't found in Bristol)
Foxglove / Digitalis purpurea
Position: Flower border
Flowering months: May_/ Jun / Jul
Light: Full sun / Mix of sun and shade / Dappled shade
Soil: Clay / Loam / Chalk / Sand
Tested in our local soil (t.i.o.l.s.): Yes
Drainage: Well drained / Moist but well-drained (never waterlogged)
Life cycle: Biennial (flowers in its second year and then dies)
Hardiness: Fully hardy (in Bristol winters)
Over winter: Partially dies back (semi-evergreen)