Good plant #31 - Digitalis ferruginea

Is there anyone who does not like a foxglove?  I am not a big fan of biennials because they only flower in their second season. Unfortunately most fox gloves are biennial but this is the nearest one I've found to being perennial, albeit short-lived 2-3 seasons of flowers. Another advantage of this foxglove over others is that slugs and snails do not seem to like it.

All foxgloves generally do best in fertile soil and part shade.  However, I have tended plants which have self seeded in exposed and very sunny sites and they have done well enough.

To propagate, I collect and store the seeds and sow them in spring - 3 or four seeds on the surface of tiny biodegradable cells and removing the weaklings.  I also just the shake the plant when it is in seed so new seedlings grow round and about, then thin out to six inches plus.

If you are a bit impatient, a cheeky alternative to waiting for seeds for two seasons is Digitalis 'Foxy' hybrids which are supposed to flower in one season.  Never tried these myself but the advice out on the web-cybe is allow a five months for blooms.  This suggests a late winter sowing (on the window ledge) for a summer showing.

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