Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea

Foxglove is a perennial for focal point, suited to full sun to partial shade and clay, loam, sandy soil or chalk, flowering Jun, Jul.

Where to use it in a border

At around 150 cm, it sits best toward the back of a border, or on its own as a focal point with room around it. Give it about 45 cm of room to spread, roughly 2 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 4a to 9a and rated H7 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.

It appears in our lists of shade, clay soil, sandy soil, chalk soil, pollinator-friendly plants.

Border Builder uses Foxglove's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.

Flowering through the year

Worth knowing

• It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
• Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
• Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.

Good companions

Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:

• Granny's Bonnetto edge in front
• Primroseto edge in front
• Bugleto edge in front
• Cinnamon Fernto flower when it does not
• Common Honeysucklefor height behind it
• Common Yellow Azaleafor height behind it

Garden styles

Cottage garden Native Shade cottage Wildlife garden Woodland