Foxgloves are big, beautiful, flowering plants that tolerate shade well. They also do very well in containers, making them perfect for adding volume and color to a shady porch or patio. Keep reading to learn more about how to grow foxglove in a pot.
Container Grown Foxglove Plants
Will foxglove plants grow in pots? Yes, as long as they’re given enough room. Foxgloves can grow as big as 5 feet (1.5 m.) high and a foot (0.5 m.) wide, so they need a sufficiently big container.
Foxgloves are biennials, which means they don’t bloom until their second year of growth. Because of this, growing foxglove in containers won’t be very showy the first summer if you start from seed. If you want flowers in your first summer, buy container-grown foxglove plants that are already established from a nursery.
Foxglove plants die after blooming, but they drop plenty of seeds that will grow new plants the following year. You can deadhead some flowers to encourage new growth, but if you want the seeds you’ll have to leave some flowers.
Potted Foxglove Care
Potted foxglove care is easy. Choose a large container with some form of support so the plants don’t droop over. Since container grown foxglove plants are so tall, they can be planted very effectively surrounded by shorter and trailing plants, serving as the “thriller” portion of the “thriller, filler, spiller” effect.
Growing foxglove in containers requires humus-rich soil and moderate to frequent watering so the soil doesn’t dry out. Foxgloves can grow in anything from partial sun to shade. They don’t like the heat, however, so if you live in a warmer climate, they’ll perform better in a shadier area.
A note of caution: This plant is considered highly toxic if ingested and even the sap can cause issues in sensitive individuals. It’s probably best to avoid growing this plant, or at least have it somewhere out of the way if you have small children or pets.
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Supporting Foxglove Plants – Tips For Staking Foxgloves That Get Too TallDue to the wide variation in available cultivars, many growers may be left wondering about foxglove flower support. Although dwarf varieties of foxglove are very common, others may reach heights as tall as 6 feet (2 m.). Learn more about foxglove plant support here.
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Foxglove Seed Harvesting – How To Save Foxglove Seeds For Next SeasonFoxglove self-sows easily in the garden, but you can also save seeds from mature plants. Collecting foxglove seeds is a great way to propagate new plants for planting in other areas or for sharing with gardening family and friends. Learn more in this article.
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Foxglove Winter Care: Learn About Foxglove Plant Care In WinterBecause of their short life span, foxgloves are planted in succession, so that each season a set of foxglove blooms. However, not preparing them properly for winter can throw this succession planting off. Learn about winterizing foxglove plants in this article.
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Removing Spent Foxglove Flowers – How Do I Deadhead Foxglove PlantsShould you deadhead foxglove? Unless you want foxglove in every corner of your garden, it is wise to deadhead these lovely blooms. Deadheading foxglove plants can minimize their spread, but it has added benefits as well. Click here for more details.
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Foxglove Care Guide: How To Grow Foxglove FlowersThe foxglove flower, while toxic, is a beautiful stately ornamental addition to any garden and an easy-growing self-seeding plant. Just don’t ingest it or grow it where children or pets might play.
