| Common Name | Foxglove |
| Genus | Digitalis |
| Species | D. purpurea |
| Family | Plantaginaceae |
| Life Cycle | Biennial, cultivars Camelot and Dalmatian can be grown as annual |
| Tray Size | 125 |
| Plug Care | Do not allow to become rootbound - bump up into larger cells or plant soon after receiving. |
| Netting / Staking | Not necessary for Camelot or Dalmatian, taller true biennial varieties benefit from one layer of support especially in windy areas. |
| Temperature Range | Zones 4-9, can survive in colder zones with some protection (frost cloth or caterpillar tunnel) through the winter. |
| Spacing | 10-12" |
| Soil Preference | Very tolerant of soil conditions but prefers evenly moist, loose soil high in organic matter. |
| Day Length | Obligate long day. Grow in full sun. Can tolerate some light shade in extreme southern/hot conditions. |
| Pinching | No |
| When to Plant | Plant in the fall and overwinter for early season blooms the following year. This will yield the largest stems. Plant in early spring a couple weeks before last frost for blooms later that summer. If planted after the soil warms up, plants will likely remain vegetative year one and flower the following year. |
| Harvesting | Cut when approximately 1/3 of the flowers on the spike are open. The remaining buds will continue to open after harvest. |
| Post Harvest Care | Place cut stems immediately into cool water. Expect a vase life of about a week, although lower flowers may drop early. Digitalis are sensitive to ethylene gas which shortens the vase life. The use of a floral conditioner can help extend the vase life. Can be stored in a cooler for a short period of time if not needed for immediate use. |
| Diseases / Insects | Powdery mildew and other foliar diseases can become an issue in long periods of high humidity and damp conditions. Increase air flow around plants and utilize drip irrigation to avoid wetting the foliage. Aphids and thrips are common insects to watch out for with this crop. |
| Bailey's Notes |
All parts of the plant are poisonous, but don't let this scare you away from growing it. Many ornamental plants we grow are toxic and should simply not be consumed. Currently in our shop we offer two varieties of digitalis - Camelot and Dalmatian. Both of these cultivars are bred to be consistently first year flowering. We may offer other varieties of D. purpurea or other species of digitalis (D. lanata, D. grandiflora, D. ambigua or hybrids) in the future, which may behave differently and we will update the grow guides accordingly. Sometimes side branches will develop after the main stalk has been cut, but this is unreliable. For continuous blooms, try succession sowing plugs - one succession in the fall and another one or two staggered in early spring. |
| Resources |