Foxglove Foxy Mix ( Digitalis purpurea ) is a mix of pink, purple, white and cream flowers, that can make a statement in any garden. This variety (Foxy Group) do not grow as tall as most Foxgloves and are popular because they can be grown as an annual and flower in their first year, if they are started indoors 4-6 prior to planting out in spring.
Foxgloves are a common sight in cottage gardens or as border plants and will happily grow in pots as long as they are big enough! Foxgloves make a great cut flower, are brilliant for attracting bees and other pollinators to the garden and are native to temperate Europe.
Suitable for Cold, Temperate, Mediterranean & Sub Tropical Climates
Growth
Foxglove Foxy Mix are an annual plant if sown at the right time of year, otherwise they will be biennial like other Foxglove varieties. They can also grow as perennials in zones with warmer winters. This variety averages in height between 90 cm’s to 1 metre, with a width of approximately 30 cm’s.
The flowers grow on tall stems as large spikes with dense clusters of either pink, purple, white or cream flowers that have randomly placed splotches of almost black/burgundy and white in their throat.
Foxgloves prefer a part shade to dappled shade location and will generally grow well under the shade of trees in warmer climates. They are not very drought tolerant and will require regular watering through the hotter months, especially if in a sunnier position. This species will usually spread seed and re-sow itself in the garden after flowering and will then die away, so once you have planted it you shouldn’t have to buy seeds again. If you do not want seeds to spread, cut the flower stems off before they begin to dry, better still – use them as a cut flower!
FAMILY:
Plantaginaceae
CLIMATE:
Cold to Sub-Tropical
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
-34 to 34°C / -29 to 93°F
SOIL TYPE:
Well draining, compost rich soil.
LOCATION:
Part Sun, afternoon shade preferred.
HEIGHT:
Up to 1 metre (3 foot)
WIDTH:
Up to 30 cm (1 foot)
pH:
6.0-7.0
GROWTH TYPE:
Annual or Biennial depending on time of sowing and climate.
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Low-Medium
POLLINATION:
Bees and other insects, Bisexual, protandrous.
MATURITY:
5 months to flower if started 4-6 weeks prior to planting out in Spring.
GERMINATION RATES:
85%
GERMINATION TIME:
14-21 days
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 10,000
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
No
WEED POTENTIAL:
No
FACTS ABOUT DIGITALIS PURPUREA (Foxglove Foxy Mix)
Although compounds that are contained in this plant are used medicinally; all parts of the Foxglove are poisonous to both humans and animals if ingested! Wear gloves or wash hands immediately after caring for the plant. and do not plant where pets and children play.
Foxglove flowers are bisexual, which means each flower has both male and female organs. However they are also protandrous, which means each sex develops at different times on the flower to avoid self pollination. The flowers start off male and then change to female as they develop. Don’t worry about a lack of pollination though for 2 reasons, firstly the little bell shaped flowers will start opening from the bottom to the top of the spike and by the time flowers further up the spike (which will be male at first) the ones at the bottom will have changed to females. Secondly they are very attractive to pollinators so there shouldn’t be any lack of assistance from nature in this department.
