Foxglove Planting Guide
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is a stately cottage garden classic, sending up dramatic 3–5 foot spires of tubular flowers — spotted purple, pink, white, or cream — in late spring and early summer. Technically biennial (flowering in its second year), foxglove perpetuates itself so freely from self-sown seed that established plantings appear to be permanent perennials. A key source plant for the heart medication digitalis, all parts are highly toxic if ingested. Bumblebees are the primary pollinators, crawling deep into each bell-shaped flower. Partial shade and cool, moist woodland-edge conditions suit foxglove best; it resents heat and drought.
Digitalis purpurea · Flower · Plantaginaceae family · 80–120 days to maturity
Why it matters: If you're just starting a flower garden in your area, Foxglove is a forgiving first pick. It tolerates imperfect soil, mild drought, and the occasional missed watering. The reward: weeks (sometimes months) of continuous color.
Get Your Personalized Foxglove Planting Dates
Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.
Where Can You Grow Foxglove?
Foxglove Growing Regions
Click any state to see the Foxglove planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Mar 6 | May 29 | May 29 | Jul 24 – Sep 4 |
| Zone 3b | Mar 1 | May 24 | May 24 | Jul 19 – Aug 30 |
| Zone 4a | Feb 25 | May 20 | May 20 | Jul 15 – Aug 26 |
| Zone 4b | Feb 20 | May 15 | May 15 | Jul 10 – Aug 21 |
| Zone 5a | Feb 21 | May 9 | May 9 | Jul 4 – Aug 15 |
| Zone 5b | Feb 14 | May 2 | May 2 | Jun 27 – Aug 8 |
| Zone 6a | Feb 6 | Apr 17 | Apr 17 | Jun 12 – Jul 17 |
| Zone 6b | Jan 30 | Apr 10 | Apr 10 | Jun 5 – Jul 10 |
| Zone 7a | Jan 28 | Apr 1 | Apr 1 | May 20 – Jun 24 |
| Zone 7b | Jan 21 | Mar 25 | Mar 25 | May 13 – Jun 17 |
| Zone 8a | Jan 11 | Mar 8 | Mar 8 | Apr 26 – May 24 |
| Zone 8b | Dec 31 | Feb 18 | Feb 18 | Apr 8 – May 6 |
| Zone 9a | Dec 16 | Jan 27 | Jan 27 | Mar 17 – Apr 7 |
How to Plant Foxglove
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Partial Shade (3-6 hours)
💧 Water
Moderate — regular watering
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.
🧪 Soil pH
5.5 – 6.5
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 3a – 9a
📅 Days to Maturity
80–120 days
Medium-season crop. Start early for best results in shorter seasons.
👪 Plant Family
Plantaginaceae
Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Plantaginaceae family crops grew last year.
Succession Planting Foxglove
Foxglove matures in just 80–120 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 2 successive plantings by sowing every 9.1 weeks.
Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.
Companion Planting for Foxglove
✅ Good Companions
Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Growing Tips for Foxglove
Sow seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost or direct-sow outdoors in late spring/early summer for next-year bloom (biennial cycle). Surface-sow — seeds need light to germinate. Transplant after last frost into cool, moist, well-amended soil. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal; full shade reduces bloom but is tolerated. Keep consistently moist. First-year plants form a basal rosette only; second-year plants produce flower spikes. After bloom, cut the main spike before seed scatters to prevent excessive spreading, or leave some spikes to self-seed for naturalizing. Perennial species (D. grandiflora, D. x mertonensis) maintain clumps without requiring self-seeding. Wear gloves when handling — all plant parts toxic.
Saving Foxglove Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Seed Saving & Storage Guide
Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.
- 200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
- Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
- Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant
Foxglove by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Foxglove?
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) takes 80 to 120 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can Foxglove grow in?
Foxglove can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 9a. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does Foxglove need?
Growing Foxglove requires Partial Shade (3-6 hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5.