When to plant Foxglove in Temperate Australia

Temperate zone — applies to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Cool · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Sow foxgloves direct from February to May, timing them for autumn so the biennial rosettes establish over winter and send up their tall flower spires the following spring. Barely cover the dust-fine seed at 3 mm, as it needs light to germinate, and be patient through the 14 to 35 day window. Plants take 120 to 130 days to reach flowering size. Space them 30 to 40 cm apart with rows 30 to 45 cm wide. Hardy and elegant in part shade, foxgloves suit cottage borders in Melbourne, Adelaide and Newcastle beneath deciduous trees.

Sowing calendar — temperate zone

Green months are your sowing window: February to May.

Growing notes

Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) are grown as biennials in temperate gardens: an autumn sowing builds a leafy rosette through winter, then the dramatic flower spike rises in spring. They prefer moist, humus-rich soil and dappled shade, and they resent hot, dry, exposed positions where they scorch and flower poorly.

The most common failure is poor germination, because the seed is tiny and light-dependent. If you bury it or let the surface dry out, nothing comes up. Surface-sow onto firmed, moist soil, press it in without covering, and keep the top layer damp with a fine mist until seedlings appear over the two-to-five-week window. Sowing into the cool, moist autumn soil of the February-to-May period makes this far easier than a hot summer start.

The second issue is toppling. The spikes are tall and top-heavy, and a summer storm through Sydney or Melbourne can lay them flat. Site them out of strong wind, in richer soil that anchors the roots, or stake taller varieties early. Every part of the foxglove is highly poisonous, so keep them well away from vegetable beds and children. Leave a spent spike or two to self-seed and you will rarely need to sow again.

Foxglove at a glance

Common questions

when do you plant foxglove seeds in Australia

In temperate zones sow direct from February to May. As biennials they form a rosette over winter and flower the following spring, taking 120 to 130 days to reach flowering size.

why won't my foxglove seeds germinate

The seed is tiny and needs light to germinate, so burying it stops it coming up. Surface-sow onto firmed, moist soil, press it in without covering, and keep the surface damp through the 14 to 35 day germination window.

do foxgloves flower in their first year

Usually no. Grown as biennials, they build a leafy rosette in the first season after an autumn sowing and flower the following spring. This is why the February-to-May window matters for a good spring display.

are foxgloves poisonous

Yes, every part of the plant is highly toxic if eaten. Keep foxgloves away from vegetable beds, and site them where children and pets cannot reach them.

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