years. Division can be done in the
spring or autumn and can be accom-
plished simply by separating new
plantlets from the mother crown.
related plantS Digitalis
grandiflora ‘Carillon’ is shorter and has
a decent rebloom with deadheading.
Digitalis lutea, straw foxglove,
doesn’t seem to rebloom as reliably
after deadheading as D. grandiflora,
although it looks better if old foliage is
cut down to new basal growth in late
summer when it starts to decline.
Holds up through winter. Prune in
spring if needed.
Digitalis ‘Mertonensis’ (D. ×merton-
ensis), strawberry foxglove, seeds itself
freely; watch for seedlings in late
summer. Not as long-lived as D.
grandiflora. Divide every couple of
years to maintain vigor. This is a
hybrid of D. purpurea and D. grandiflora.Digitalis purpurea
common foxglove
plantaginaceaePink, white, yellow, or rust-colored flowers
in spikes; green leaves
2–5 ft. high; 2 ft. wide
Part shade
Blooms June–July
Zones 4–9
pruning Deadhead to a lateral leaf or
bud when about 70 percent of the
flowering on the spike is finished; this
avoids having a long, spindly, unat-
tractive spike with numerous seed
capsules at the bottom and a few stray
flowers at the top. Cut back to basal
rosettes immediately after all flower-
ing is finished and before seed set to
promote the perennial nature of this
biennial. Lifting the plants and
replanting the new rosettes at this
time will ensure vigor, otherwise the
following year’s flowers may be
smaller in size. Plants can also be
allowed to reseed before deadheading
to ensure constancy in the garden.
Common foxglove often looks tatty
when going to seed, so cutting down
most but not all flowering spikes will
ensure some seeding, though not an
overabundant amount, while keeping
the plant a bit cleaner. The foliage may
also get tatty by late summer if the
plant is allowed to go to seed, in which
case the foliage should be removed at
this time.
other maintenance Performs
best in well-draining yet moist soils
high in organic matter, preferably with
an acidic pH. Prone to a variety of
diseases and to Japanese beetles, all of
which contribute to foxglove’s ratty
late-summer appearance. Leaves and
seeds are toxic if ingested.
related plantS Digitalis purpurea
‘Foxy’ blooms throughout the summer
in its first year with constant dead-
heading. Only blooms early in the
season in its 2nd year. Best treated as
an annual and replanted yearly.
Digitalis purpurea Excelsior Group
is a biennial with tall flower spikes in
early summer.Digitalis grandiflora