The whimsical foxglove plant (Digitalis purpurea) has brought joy to my heart for years. And as far back as the 1700s, foxglove flowers have also brought physical healing to hearts in need. The man credited with the introduction of digitalis into the practice of medicine was William Withering, who first used extracts of the plant to help with Dropsy. Even Dr. Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles Darwin, wrote a poem extolling the good effects of this lovely flower.
In our modern times, certain compounds found in the leaves are used to help in the fight against cardiac disease. And while its extracts prove beneficial, the foxglove plant itself—stems, flowers, leaves and all—is entirely toxic and should not be ingested.
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Foxgloves are a classic cottage garden flower known for their tall spires of bell-shaped blooms on a single stalk Their whimsical appearance makes them a favorite for gardeners, but foxgloves can be tricky when it comes to getting them to bloom. So do foxgloves bloom the first year?
The short answer is: it depends. Most foxglove varieties are biennials, meaning they take two years to complete their life cycle. During the first year, foxgloves grow only leaves and roots as they store energy for flowering. They don’t produce flowers until their second year of growth.
However, some newer foxglove varieties have been bred to bloom in their first year. These “first year flowering” or FYF foxgloves behave more like annuals, blooming the same season you plant them from seed.
Biennial Foxgloves
If you plant seeds for common or wild foxglove varieties, expect to wait until the second year to enjoy flowers. Here’s what to expect with biennial foxgloves:
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Year 1: Sow seeds in spring or summer. Foxgloves develop only leafy foliage during their first year of growth. The plant grows and establishes roots through the first season before going dormant over winter.
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Year 2: In spring of the second year, established foxglove plants send up tall bloom stalks. Flowers open in late spring and early summer. Plants bloom for 2-3 weeks. After flowering, the foxglove completes its life cycle, sets seed, and dies back.
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Year 3: Some biennial foxgloves drop viable seed that sprouts new plants. These self-sown foxgloves may create a perpetual patch in your garden. However, bloom time and performance of self-sown plants can be unreliable.
While waiting two years for flowers may seem frustrating, the payoff of a towering foxglove bloom spike is worth it! Just be sure to plan ahead and sow new seeds each year for a continuous supply.
First Year Flowering Foxgloves
Recently, plant breeders have developed new foxglove varieties that behave more like short-lived perennials or annuals. These FYF foxgloves bloom the first year from seed, eliminating the long wait time
Popular FYF foxglove series to try include
- Camelot series
- Dalmatian series
- Pam’s Choice
- Costello series
When planting FYF foxgloves, you can expect:
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Spring: Sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Move seedlings to the garden after danger of frost.
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Summer: Flowering begins in early summer, about 2 months from seed sowing. FYF foxgloves bloom through summer.
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Fall: Plants may continue flowering into fall but often decline after the first flush of summer blooms. They may not survive winter.
The main drawback of FYF foxgloves is they behave more like short-lived perennials or annuals. Each year you’ll need to replant from seed to maintain a flowering patch. However, avoiding the long wait for flowers may be worth it!
Tips for Getting First Year Blooms
If you already have biennial foxglove varieties, here are some tricks to try squeezing some first year flowers:
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Start seeds very early indoors – Sow seeds in January or February and grow seedlings under lights to produce larger plants. Transplant outdoors several weeks before last frost. The goal is to maximize growth in year 1.
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Take advantage of mild climates – In zones 9-10, foxgloves may be more inclined to bloom in year 1. Start seeds in fall for early spring blooms.
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Grow in containers – The confined space and ideal growing conditions of containers can sometimes coax early blooms.
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Pinch back in midsummer – Pinching back the apical stem tip can encourage branching and quicker flowering in some biennials. However results are mixed with foxgloves.
While not guaranteed, these tactics may help push some first year flowers on standard biennial foxglove varieties. For best success, seek out FYF foxgloves.
Final Thoughts
With their stately spires and speckled throats, foxgloves bring whimsy and magic to any garden. While most varieties follow the traditional biennial timeline, newer FYF introductions allow home gardeners to enjoy foxglove blooms the very first season. Whether you opt for an old fashioned variety or new FYF type, a patch of foxgloves is sure to delight.
KNOWING AND GROWING FOXGLOVES
Foxgloves blooms May to June. Most foxglove plants are biennials. This means they have vegetative growth the first year and flower the second year.
Foxgloves need to be staked before the florets open. Once they open the weight of the flower can break the stalk.
Foxgloves do best in morning sun light with afternoon shade.
When it comes to pruning foxglove, remove the center flowering stalk after it blooms. This will enable the side stalks to have more energy to grow and bloom.
Cut foxgloves for arrangements just before the blooms reach their peak.
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FOXGLOVE FLOWER HISTORY AND FOLKLORE
The foxglove plant has been around for centuries and stories of how it got its name are just as colorful as its flowers. The name ‘foxglove’ seems to derive from one of two stories told in Scandinavia.
The first one tells of fairies saving the foxes from extinction by showing them how to ring the digitalis bells to warn their kind of the danger of approaching hunters. The second tells of foxes putting on florets as gloves so their steps would be quieter when approaching the chicken coop.
In Wales, digitalis was called Goblin’s Gloves because it was believed that hobgoblins wore the long bells on their fingers and they would impart magical elements to the wearer.
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Foxgloves are very beautiful on their own, but when accompanied with other flowers from the garden they can make a spectacular arrangement. Mix foxglove flowers in arrangements with others that may be blooming in your garden, such as, snapdragons, delphiniums, dahlias, irises, and lilies-of-the-valley.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_ src=”https://flowermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/foxglove-plant-in-bloom.jpg” alt=”Garden border planted with pink ‘Foxy’ foxgloves and irises” title_text=”foxglove plant in bloom” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” enable_caption_text=”on” enable_description_text=”on” _caption_font=”Open Sans|300|||||||” _caption_color=”#000000″ _caption_size=”12px” _description_font=”||on||||||” _description_size=”14px” _description_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” ul_item_indent=”76px” sticky_enabled=”0″]
My Experience with Foxglove! // Garden Answer
FAQ
Will foxgloves bloom first year?
Perennial foxglove varieties flower in the first year. Biennial foxglove varieties can be planted in either spring or fall and bloom in their second year. We offer foxglove seeds of both types in a sophisticated color palette of pale pinks, cream, rose, lavender, and deep plum.
How long does it take for foxglove to flower?
Most Foxglove varieties are Biennials (if the seed pack does not indicate they are FYF, you can assume they are Biennial). It usually takes about 360 days from sowing the seeds until they bloom. If you sow the seeds in May, you can expect them to bloom the FOLLOWING year in May.
What does foxglove look like the first year?
Most of the foxgloves grown here at Longwood are considered biennials, meaning they produce a basal rosette of green, oblong leaves in their first year from seed and then flowers their second year. However, using a precise production and growing approach, we are able to get our foxgloves to bloom in less than one year.
What are the disadvantages of foxglove?
People who eat any part of the plant or make tea from the leaves are, in essence, taking an unregulated dose of heart medicine. This can cause the heart rate to slow down or become irregular. Both can be dangerous and life threatening. Foxglove is one of many reasons to watch children closely when they play outdoors.