This European wildflower is very popular with pollinators. Grows to 1.5m tall and 50cm across in full shade or full sun and a moist but well-drained soil. Produces spikes of rust-coloured flowers in the summer of its second year.
After planting, foxgloves spend their first year rooting in, growing leaves and building up strength, and then flower the year after.
Keep the main flower spike to collect the seed, or cut it down as the flowers fade to encourage flowering side shoots.
Rusty Foxglove / Digitalis ferruginea
Position: Flower border
Flowering months: Jun / Jul / Aug
Light: Full sun / Mix of sun and shade / Dappled shade / Full Shade
Soil: Clay / Loam / Chalk / Sand
Tested in our local soil (t.i.o.l.s.): Yes
Drainage: Well drained / Moist but well-drained
Life cycle: Short-lived perennial (flowers for two-four years)
Hardiness: Fully hardy (in Bristol winters)
Over winter: Partially dies back (semi-evergreen)
Drought tolerant: Yes