Large yellow foxglove

Large yellow foxglove: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Clump with upright flower spikes, 80 cm tall and 45 cm wide.

Leaves

Lance-shaped, glossy green, finely toothed and slightly hairy underneath.

Flower

Large tubular bells 4–5 cm long, pale yellow with brown veins and speckles inside, on one side of the spike, from June to August.

Fruit

Small capsules full of dust-fine seed; it self-seeds moderately.

Toxicity

All parts are highly poisonous.

Flowering: June–August · Sowing: March–June · Plants: March–April and September–October · Pruning: March and July–August

Why grow it?

• A true perennial that lasts for years, unlike the biennial common foxglove.
• Pale yellow flowers that light up part shade and shade.
• Bumblebees crawl into the bells in search of nectar.
• A long season, from June to August, with a second flush if you cut off the faded spikes.
• Compact and sturdy: support is rarely needed.

Large yellow foxglove: where does it grow best?

• Part shade or light shade, for example at a woodland edge or under tall shrubs; full midday sun is too much.
• Ordinary, humus-rich garden soil: sand, loam or clay, acid to chalky.
• Moist: do not let it dry out in summer, and avoid soil that is too wet in winter.
• Plant 40–45 cm apart, in groups of three or more.
• Not near the vegetable garden or a play area, because it is poisonous.

Light

Partial shade and shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal

Size

0.8 m tall, 0.45 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -35 °C)

Goes well with

• Hardy geranium: Blue and purple flowers next to the soft yellow.
• Ferns: Fresh green foliage in the same part shade.
• Hosta: Large leaves at its feet for a calm contrast.
• Masterwort: Flowers at the same time and also likes part shade.

Large yellow foxglove: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and September–October.

1. Plant in March–April or in September–October, when the ground is not frozen.
2. Dig a hole slightly wider than the pot and mix in compost or leaf mould.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot, no deeper, so the crown does not rot.
4. Leave 40–45 cm between plants.
5. Water well and keep the soil moist for the first few weeks.
6. Spread a mulch of leaf mould around the base.

Care

Water

Water in dry spells, especially in the first year.

Feeding

A layer of compost in spring.

Mulching

Leaf mould keeps the soil cool and moist.

Spent flowers

Cut faded spikes back to above the leaves: this often gives a second flush on side shoots.

Gloves

Wear gloves when handling the plant and wash your hands afterwards.

Tip: Cut off the faded spikes straight away, just above the leaves: you will get a second flush in August. Leave the last spikes if you want seedlings.

Large yellow foxglove: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March and July–August.

When: After the first flush, in July–August, cut off the faded spikes; in March clear away the old stems.

How:

• Cut the faded spike off just above the leaves or a side shoot: a second flush will follow.
• Leave the last spikes if you want it to self-seed.
• In March cut away the old, dry stems; the leaf clump stays.

Caution: Wear gloves: all parts are highly poisonous, including the sap.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

Indoors in March–April or outdoors in May–June: scatter the dust-fine seed on moist soil without covering it, as it needs light to germinate. Plant out the young plants in autumn or spring; they usually flower from their second year.

Division

In March–April or in September–October: cut a large clump into pieces with a spade, each with a few rosettes, and replant them straight away.

Large yellow foxglove: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −35 °C.

• Very hardy, to about −35 °C: no protection is needed in Belgium.
• The leaf rosette often stays partly green in mild winters.
• Make sure the soil is not too wet in winter, or the crown will rot.

Diseases and pests

• Slugs: They eat the young leaves in spring. Pick them off in the evening.
• Powdery mildew: White powder on the leaves in dry summer weather. Water at the base and cut off affected leaves.
• Leaf spot: Brown spots on the leaves in wet summers. Remove affected leaves and give the plant space.
• Rotting: The crown rots on soil that is too wet or when the plant is set too deep. Plant at the same depth as in the pot and improve drainage.

Through the year

• March: Clear old stems. Sow indoors. Plant or divide.
• April: Plant. Add compost. Watch for slugs.
• May: Sow outdoors. The flower spikes grow.
• June: Flowering begins. Bumblebees in the bells. Sow outdoors.
• July: Flowering. Cut off faded spikes for a second flush.
• August: Second flush. Cut off faded spikes or let them self-seed.
• September: Plant or divide. Move seedlings.
• October: Plant.
• December: Rest.

Edible and useful

Not edible. All parts of foxglove are poisonous: its compounds act strongly on the heart. In spring its leaf rosettes are mistaken for those of comfrey or borage; foxglove has soft, finely hairy leaves without prickly hairs or a smell of cucumber. So do not pick herbs for tea near foxgloves unless you are sure. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• Digitalis comes from the Latin digitus, finger: the flowers fit over a fingertip like a thimble.
• The brown veins inside the flower guide bumblebees to the nectar.
• The strawberry-pink Digitalis × mertonensis is a cross between this foxglove and the common foxglove.