foxglove

[amc929]

ok....i've planted a couple of foxgloves...the tag from the market says they are biennials....now, here is my question.....what do i do to make sure they come back. they are flowering now, and as i understand it, after this year, they die. if i dead head the flowers and just let them drop, will i at least get a plant next year?...thanx

[Newt]

Hi AMC,
A biennial will grow the root system and some top growth the first year. The second year it will flower, set seed and die. If you want more plants, you will need to leave the spent flower stalk so the seeds can ripen. Then you can either collect the seeds and sprinkle them in the garden where you want them to grow or collect the seed and either sow indoors next spring or winter sow in pots of flats in January. If you want to winter sow, I can give you the directions. It's very easy to do.

http://www.seedsofknowledge.com/foxgloves.html

Newt

[amc929]

8) thanks, newt....had a horrific storm yesterday, and this morning went out to check the damage....my flower spikes from my foxgloves were laying on the ground...they really took a beating...oh well...most of the flowers had dropped off, and i was waiting for the rest of them to go, but nature took care of that for me....will experiment with them and see how things go....also, thanks for the link to the website...am going to check it out today...looks like a good one!

[Newt]

You are so welcome! Sorry to hear about the storm. Did you get to see fireworks? We were so tired we didn't go. It rained early in the day and then stopped and started up again around midnight. Sure was a lucky break.

You could always stake the spent flower stalks until the seeds ripen and then collect them and cut the stalk. I wouldn't pull the plants out yet as sometimes biennials will surprise you and bloom again. You just never know!

Newt

[backyardgardener]

What was stated above is correct, but I have had the luck of cutting the stock down to the base and waiting two years for it to bloom again.

backyard

[blondemommyof2]

i bought seeds for next year and it was 40,000 seeds PKT: $2.50 free shipping to the usa
here's what they say about foxglove
Foxgloves produce spires of large tubular flowers that are enchanting vertical accents in the shade garden. Their colors include cream, pink, purple, yellow and white. They bloom in late spring or early summer and if the main spike is cut, side shoots will develop and flower until September. Naturalizes easily, attracts hummingbirds. Biennials or short-lived perennials, except for the Strawberry foxglove which is a true perennial