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Herbaceous Perennial

Digitalis laevigata

smooth foxglove

A rosette-forming perennial to 1m tall, producing a basal clump of oval, dark green leaves, with erect leafy stems bearing loose racemes of brown-veined, light yellow flowers 3.5cm long in summer

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing or North–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Plantaginaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: TOXIC if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling TOXIC to pets - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Digitalis can be biennials or usually short-lived perennials forming a rosette of simple leaves with bell-shaped flowers in slender, erect, usually one-sided racemes
Name status: Correct
Plant range: S. Europe

How to grow

Cultivation

Will grow in almost any soil or situation except very wet or very dry. Performs best in a humus-rich soil in sunny situation or partial shade. Generally a short-lived perennial. See foxglove cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame in late spring or propagate by careful division in early spring. Try basal cuttings in spring - see softwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back main flower spike as it fades to encourage the growth of flowering side shoots

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids and leaf and bud eelworm

Diseases

May be susceptible to leaf spots and powdery mildews

Get involved

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