Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Digitalis purpurea (Common foxglove)
1 hour care
per year
per year
1.5m
Max height
Max height
0.5m
Max spread
Max spread
1-2 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Digitalis purpurea
Other names
Common foxglove
Genus
Digitalis Digitalis
Species
D. purpurea - D. purpurea is a biennial plant, forming a basal clump of leaves in its first year, then tall, upright spikes of purple-pink, bell-shaped flowers in its second year. If allowed to self-seed, it will replenish itself in the garden.
Digitalis purpurea is: Semi evergreen
Habit
Clump-forming, Erect
Toxicity
All parts of the plant are highly toxic if eaten.
Flower
Purple-pink in Summer
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Leaf spot , Powdery mildew Leaf spot , Powdery mildew
General care
Pruning
Cut back main flower spike as it fades to encourage a second flowering.
Propagation methods
Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Digitalis purpurea (Common foxglove) will reach a height of 1.5m and a spread of 0.5m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), Cottage/Informal, Low Maintenance, Meadow, Wildflower, Wildlife, Woodland
Cultivation
Plant in almost any soil or situation except very wet or very dry. An ideal site is a humus-rich soil in part shade. Seeds can be planted in situ and plants left to self-seed after flowering.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Digitalis purpurea
Other names
Common foxglove
Genus
Digitalis Digitalis
Species
D. purpurea - D. purpurea is a biennial plant, forming a basal clump of leaves in its first year, then tall, upright spikes of purple-pink, bell-shaped flowers in its second year. If allowed to self-seed, it will replenish itself in the garden.
Native to
Central Europe, Southwestern Europe
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Clump-forming, Erect
Toxicity
All parts of the plant are highly toxic if eaten.
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Purple-pink in Summer
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
Cut back main flower spike as it fades to encourage a second flowering.
Propagation methods
Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Digitalis purpurea (Common foxglove) will reach a height of 1.5m and a spread of 0.5m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), Cottage/Informal, Low Maintenance, Meadow, Wildflower, Wildlife, Woodland
Cultivation
Plant in almost any soil or situation except very wet or very dry. An ideal site is a humus-rich soil in part shade. Seeds can be planted in situ and plants left to self-seed after flowering.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
COMPANION PLANTS
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
Designed by garden designer Helen Elks-Smith MSGD. Traditional with a contemporary twist, this garden located on the outskirts of London is designed for relaxed family living and informal… read more
From creation to relocation, the 'Believe in Tomorrow' garden’s mission, by garden designer Seonaid Royall, is to encourage more children to get outdoors and engage with… read more
By West London based garden designer Jonathan Snow. This year, Jonathan and Trailfinders want to transport visitors several thousand miles west around the globe, to the temperate rainforests of South… read more
Esteemed garden designer, Helen Elks-Smith, is creating a Show Garden on Main Avenue for the first time for Warner’s Distillery. read more
Designed by Mark Gregory. The highlight of the 2019 Welcome to Yorkshire show garden will be an authentically built canal with flowing water and genuine canal lock gates. read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login
DISCUSS THIS PLANT
Digitalis purpurea
There are 3 active discussions about Digitalis purpurea (Common foxglove)
View all discussions