Foxglove is a wild biennial, a flower of the field. It germinates in freshly turned soil. It likes recently cleared land, for example, but also thrives in the garden.
I love them because, as well as bringing color to the garden in May and June, they also add height to perennial beds. With their tall stems adorned with clusters of bell-shaped flowers, foxgloves add a touch of rustic magic. It adds a natural, wild air to the garden.
This is one of the plants on my list of 16 maintenance-free plants.
Origins and meaning
Foxgloves, from the Latin “digitalis”, are native mainly to Europe and western Asia. Depending on the region, it’s known as Doigt de la Vierge, Doigtier, Gant de Notre-Dame or Gantelée.
These plants have a rich and sometimes mystical history, having been associated with legends and popular beliefs for centuries. They were once considered magical plants, capable of protecting against evil spirits or curing certain ailments, although their toxicity was also recognized.
In the Middle Ages, it was used for magical and divinatory rituals. Above all, it was the plant of the forest spirits. Until the 18th century, when arsenic appeared, foxglove was a component of “bouillon de onze heure”, a poisonous drink served before bedtime to induce eternal sleep.
Botanical features
Foxgloves can be recognized by their long, upright stems, often covered with downy leaves and ending in clusters of bell-shaped flowers. These flowers can vary from white to purple. Although most varieties are biennial, some can be perennial in favorable conditions. The most common variety around here is pink. To have access to other colors, I buy seeds.
- Zoological Name: Digitalis
- Family: Scrofulariaceae
- Height: 80 to 120 cm
- Exposure: Sun to mid-shade. On the edge of an undergrowth.
- Soil: Ordinary, well drained
- Flowering: May to July
Foxglove is highly toxic!
Digital culture and maintenance
Growing foxgloves in your garden is easy and requires very little work. All you need to do is let a few plants grow on their own. When they’re big enough, they’re even willing to be moved.
These plants prefer humus-rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, and thrive in a semi-shady spot, such as the edge of a clearing. Here, I grow them in full sun and they appreciate it too.
When planting foxgloves, it’s important to remember that most varieties are biennial, meaning they produce leaves the first year and flower the second year before dying back. Sometimes, if the deflowered stem is cut off, the plant may flower a second time in the same year or the following year.
To avoid losing the variety, harvest the seeds and sow them in lightly tilled soil in autumn.
Using foxglove in the garden
Foxgloves can be used in a variety of ways to add a touch of rustic, natural charm to the garden. Plant them in groups in beds or clumps to create focal points, or let them grow naturally in semi-wild areas for a cottage garden effect.
I leave a few growing in the vegetable garden and move them in the spring if I need to fill in a corner of a bed or add a little height.
Insects love foxgloves. It’s fun to watch the big bumblebees emerge from a bell, covered in pollen.
