When to Plant Foxglove in Maryland

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.

Maryland spans USDA hardiness zones 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a (with planting data available), so planting dates vary by your location within the state. Click your zone below for the most accurate dates.

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Click your county for exact Foxglove planting dates based on your local frost dates.

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Foxglove Planting Calendar for Maryland

▸ Zone 6a ~193 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 10 · First frost: October 20 · 193 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	February 6	Feb 6 – Feb 20
Transplant Outdoors	April 17	Apr 17 – May 1
Direct Sow	April 17	Apr 17 – May 8
Bloom	June 12	Jun 12 – Jul 17

▸ Zone 7a ~221 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 25 · First frost: November 1 · 221 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 28	Jan 28 – Feb 11
Transplant Outdoors	April 1	Apr 1 – Apr 15
Direct Sow	April 1	Apr 1 – Apr 22
Bloom	May 20	May 20 – Jun 24

▸ Zone 7b ~235 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 18 · First frost: November 8 · 235 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 21	Jan 21 – Feb 4
Transplant Outdoors	March 25	Mar 25 – Apr 8
Direct Sow	March 25	Mar 25 – Apr 15
Bloom	May 13	May 13 – Jun 17

▸ Zone 8a ~255 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 8 · First frost: November 18 · 255 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 11	Jan 11 – Jan 25
Transplant Outdoors	March 8	Mar 8 – Mar 22
Direct Sow	March 8	Mar 8 – Mar 29
Bloom	April 26	Apr 26 – May 24

Growing Tips for Maryland

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.

Foxglove in Other States

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Foxglove in Maryland?

Planting dates for Foxglove in Maryland depend on your USDA zone. Maryland spans zones 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.

What zone is Maryland for planting?

Maryland contains USDA hardiness zones 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a. Your specific zone depends on your location within the state — northern and higher-elevation areas are in colder zones, while southern and coastal areas are warmer.

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