Foxy Foxglove (Digitalis 'Foxy')

Foxy Foxglove (Digitalis 'Foxy') is a compact, first year flowering foxglove admired for dense spires of outward facing bells in blended shades of rose, blush, cream, and white, each throat handsomely speckled. Shorter and earlier than classic types, it forms a tidy rosette of deep green leaves and sends up multiple stems from late spring into summer, bringing reliable vertical color to borders, cottage plantings, and containers.

Distinctive Features

Well branched stems carry dozens of outward poised bells for maximum visibility; the freckled throats add close up detail while the compact habit and long bloom window deliver high impact in smaller spaces.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade; provide afternoon shade in hot climates.
• Soil: Rich, well drained, moisture retentive soil; avoid soggy sites.
• Water: Moderate and even moisture during bud and bloom.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9 (often grown as a short lived perennial or biennial).
• Mature Size: About 24 to 36 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide.
• Bloom Time: Late spring to midsummer, with side shoot rebloom if deadheaded.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Upright spires add vertical architecture and layered color.
• Cottage Borders: Mixes beautifully with roses, salvia, and nepeta.
• Pollinator Gardens: Nectar rich bells welcome bees and hummingbirds.
• Back of Border: Uniform height frames mixed plantings without flopping.
• Containers: Scaled for patio planters and entry pots.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Keep evenly moist during active growth; water deeply but infrequently once established.
• Deadheading: Remove spent spikes to promote side shoots and extend flowering.
• Fertilizing: Top dress with compost in spring or apply a light, balanced slow release fertilizer.
• Staking: Usually unnecessary; stake only in very windy exposures.
• Safety: All parts are toxic if ingested; site away from pets and children.

Why Choose Foxy Foxglove?

• First Year Flowers: Early, dependable color without waiting a season.
• Compact Habit: Fits smaller borders and containers with ease.
• Showy Speckling: Freckled throats provide distinctive cottage style detail.
• Pollinator Friendly: Attracts bees and hummingbirds while typically deer resistant.
• Versatile Palette: Harmonizes with both soft pastels and bold schemes.

Digitalis 'Foxy' blends classic foxglove charm with modern ease, delivering months of vertical bloom, pollinator appeal, and a neat footprint in sunny to lightly shaded, well drained gardens.