Foxglove care — light, water, toxicity and hardiness
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) wants partial shade and a drink about every 5 days once established. It is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. It is toxic to pets — worth keeping out of reach.
| scientific name | Digitalis purpurea |
|---|---|
| family | Plantaginaceae |
| category | flower |
| plant type | biennial |
| light | partial shade |
| water cadence days | 5 |
| min zone | 4 |
| max zone | 8 |
| frost tolerant | true |
| toxic to pets | true |
| toxic to humans | true |
| edible | false |
How often should I water Foxglove?
Keep soil evenly moist.
Is Foxglove toxic?
Every part contains cardiac glycosides — seriously toxic to people and pets if eaten.
Who eats it
Palatable to browsing animals such as deer: low. Palatable to grazing animals: low. Palatable to people: no. USDA records its toxicity as moderate.
What it needs
Its shade tolerance is high. Its moisture use is medium. Its drought tolerance is low. It wants at least about 40 inches of rain a year. Above roughly 60 inches of annual rain it struggles. It tolerates soil down to pH 5.5. It tolerates soil up to pH 7.0. Its fertility requirement is medium. Adapted to coarse, sandy soils: no. Adapted to medium, loamy soils: yes. Adapted to fine, clay soils: yes. It needs at least 190 frost-free days. Fire resistant: no. It has been recorded down to -13°F. It suppresses neighbours chemically: no.
How it grows
It grows as a single crown form. Its growth rate is moderate. Its lifespan is short. It puts on most of its growth in spring and summer. It spreads by seed at a moderate rate. It resprouts after damage: no. Coppices: no. At maturity it reaches about 5.0 feet. Its roots go down at least 6 inches. Its shape is erect. It holds its leaves through winter: no.
What it looks like
It blooms in summer. The flowers are purple. Conspicuous in flower: yes. The foliage is dark green. The foliage texture is fine. In summer the canopy is porous in porosity. In winter it is porous in porosity. Fall colour: yes. The fruit or seed is black. Fruit begins in summer. Fruit finishes by fall. It fruits high. The fruit persists on the plant: no. The fruit is conspicuous: no.
Growing more of it
Propagated by seed: yes. Propagated by cuttings: no. Propagated by container: no. Propagated by bare root: no. Propagated by bulb: no. Propagated by corm: no. Propagated by tubers: no. Cold stratification required: no. Seedling vigour is medium. Commercial availability: no known source.
Source: USDA PLANTS Database; US Cooperative Extension horticulture publications · ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List · 2026-09-02