Foxgloves?

I currently have a few foxgloves doing very well in the garden. I was wondering, as they are biennial and flowering at the moment, then will they flower next year and the year after or should i plants some more now for flowers next year?

 

Hi Veggie (hope you don't mind me calling you that?)
I also have a couple of very nice groups of foxgloves in my garden and you are correct they are biennial and will grow one year to flower the next, mine are quite happy where there are and willingly self seed all by their own year after year.Hel.xxx.

 

Yes, they seed prolifically and the seed is easy to collect, other wise let it fall around the existing plants The seeds will sprout and start growing this year to flower next year. Old plants will survive for a second season, but often look a bit ragged.

 

Do be careful how you handle these plants as they are poisonous. Not sure how poisonous to humans but I shouldn't go putting hands to mouth after touching them..........anyone know the extent to which these are poisonous?

 

I don't think there all that dangerous unless you intentionally sit there and eat them :P

 

Marley, what an interesting article. It just shows that even though something can be so deadly it can also be used to save lives too. Always reminds me of my parents garden in my childhood. Certainly lovely looking plants.

 

I have a lot off, to me, very nice pale coloured Foxfloves.

They self seed all over the place,so I transplant some to where I want them to flower and dump the rest.

I get the pale colours I want, by not allowing the purple colours (which is the dominant colour) to flower at all. As soon as I see a purple colour on the flower I take out that plant so that the bees do not carry the pollen to my light coloured plants!

It took a couple of years to achieve, but now there are lots of different light shades.

I have achieved the same result with Iceland poppies, there I always pull out the orange colour (which is also the dominant colour.) You get used to being ruthless.

But you have to allow the plants to set seed, not cut off all seeds heads before the plants shed their seed!

We are surrounded by poisonous plants etc. if anyone is daft enough to eat then, well !

 

Just want to say thanks for this thread, don't know anything about foxgloves but what interesting facts you have all turned up.

Makka, sounds like you have been working hard to achieve what you wanted. My grandad was the same - no offence meant.

As moyra said, a memory in many peoples lives I'm sure.

cheers

 

Hello Borrowers,

I like Foxgloves not so sure about FoxFloves,must check spelling next time!

The hardest part is pulling out a plant that is just about to flower. But the dominant colour is seldom what is wanted,so away with them.

Have just come in from the garden, the large bees have been having a fine old time in the Foxgloves, there cannot be any nectar left in any of the flowers, but still they keep coming!

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