Digitalis purpurea, or the common foxglove, is classified as a short-lived perennial which self-seeds with abundance to continue its cycle of growth. In fact, the true classification of the flowering cycle falls into biennial or short-lived perennial (monocarpic), with the plant flowering in its second year and setting seed only once, and then dying.

The common foxglove belongs to the family of plantains, Plantaginaceae; and is found across Europe, western Asia, and north west Africa. These are the weeds you may sometimes see in lawns or verges, with broad, thick leathery leaves and stems which can take any treading from a size 10 boot!

Where do foxgloves grow?

The common foxglove is often taken for granted by plant enthusiasts and is very much underrated. But for those of us who have a real love and concern for wildlife gardening, this plant is a fundamental part of our natural ecosystem. 

This remarkable plant can literally pop up anywhere in our gardens; it's ubiquitous as it also grows in woodlands, hedgerows and verges. That's the fascination! The self-seeding process creates a transition from gardens to the wider natural environment, and vice versa. 

Digitalis purpurea has a preference for acidic soil; that said, it will thrive in diverse conditions. Its maximum height is normally about 2 metres. 

The morphology (structure) of the foxglove means the flowers grow on one side only of the stem. These tubular, pendant-shaped pink-purple flowers are naturally designed to face the sunnier aspect (how incredible is that!) This facilitates easier access for bees, for which the flowers are a great source of nectar and pollen. They flower from May to August, sometimes into September. The leaves are oval shaped and hairy with a toothed margin.

How do foxgloves spread?

As a Horticulturist/Plantsman, I'm always keen to propagate plants; however, I've never grown Digitalis purpurea from purchased seed, or collected seed, as there is often no need to.

With the onset of autumn, it's typical of a good-sized plant to hold a couple of million seeds (fascinating!) and nature's helping hand disperses these by wind. My seasonal task in autumn as an addition to this natural cycle is, armed with secateurs, to cut off a dry stem, and shake the stem and dried seed heads over a chosen spot in the garden. These will overwinter and germinate the following spring.

In addition to this task, I also transplant young plants that inevitably regrow in the soil from the previous season’s wind dispersal (an ongoing cycle of selection). I generally transplant the young plants into natural grassy areas to create a wildlife haven during late winter to early spring, or any natural semi woodland edge in the garden. Sometimes these areas can be emulated with some creative planting. But what we're doing is creating an area to attract bees and other insects.

Pruning back the stem of a mature plant before it sets seed prolongs the life of the individual plant. 

Important to note: foxgloves are toxic if ingested, so always wear gloves while handling the plants or seeds, and be mindful of keeping them away from pets and children. 

Which wildlife benefits from foxgloves? 

During the summer, the foxglove’s purple-pink tubular flowers attract bees, providing them with a wonderful source of nectar and pollen. The tiny hairs within each perianth (the flower head comprising tepals and petals) are designed to deter smaller insects from entering; this enables the long-tongued bee species to undertake pollination. 

Each basal platform of the flower head is adorned with dark spots to attract the colonising bee species. The bee lands on the lower lip of the perianth prior to climbing into the flower tube. Pollen is then smeared onto the insect's body, which in turn is transported by the bee from flower to flower, enabling the plants to reproduce.  

Many other insects are also attracted to the foxglove: the Foxglove Pug Moth feeds on the flowers, whilst the leaves provide food for caterpillars of other moth species. The red secretion from the caterpillar occurred whilst I was taking the images below. Research informs me that this is a type of defence mechanism against predators. 

It's fascinating to see how tiny insects visit the flowers on cooler evenings. This is due to the temperature within the thimble head tubular flowers being slightly higher.  

During the autumn, the seed pods turn dry and brown and split open from apex to the base and release their seeds. This creates an open cavity, creating refuges for small insects drawn in to take up a residential space. 

The wonder of nature!