Foxgloves are a classic cottage garden flower known for their tall spires of bell-shaped blooms on a single stalk Their whimsical appearance makes them a favorite for gardeners, but foxgloves can be tricky when it comes to getting them to bloom. So do foxgloves bloom the first year?
The short answer is: it depends. Most types of foxgloves are biennial, which means they grow and bloom every two years. They only grow leaves and roots the first year so they can save energy for flowering the next year. They don’t produce flowers until their second year of growth.
However, some newer foxglove varieties have been bred to bloom in their first year. These “first year flowering” or FYF foxgloves behave more like annuals, blooming the same season you plant them from seed.
Biennial Foxgloves
If you plant seeds for common or wild foxglove varieties, expect to wait until the second year to enjoy flowers. Here’s what to expect with biennial foxgloves:
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Year 1: Sow seeds in spring or summer. Foxgloves develop only leafy foliage during their first year of growth. The plant grows and establishes roots through the first season before going dormant over winter.
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Year 2: In spring of the second year, established foxglove plants send up tall bloom stalks. Flowers open in late spring and early summer. Plants bloom for 2-3 weeks. After flowering, the foxglove completes its life cycle, sets seed, and dies back.
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Year 3: Some biennial foxgloves drop viable seed that sprouts new plants. These self-sown foxgloves may create a perpetual patch in your garden. However, bloom time and performance of self-sown plants can be unreliable.
While waiting two years for flowers may seem frustrating, the payoff of a towering foxglove bloom spike is worth it! Just be sure to plan ahead and sow new seeds each year for a continuous supply.
First Year Flowering Foxgloves
Recently, plant breeders have developed new foxglove varieties that behave more like short-lived perennials or annuals. These FYF foxgloves bloom the first year from seed, eliminating the long wait time
Popular FYF foxglove series to try include
- Camelot series
- Dalmatian series
- Pam’s Choice
- Costello series
When planting FYF foxgloves, you can expect:
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Spring: Sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Move seedlings to the garden after danger of frost.
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Summer: Flowering starts in early summer, about two months after the seeds were planted. FYF foxgloves bloom through summer.
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Fall: Plants may continue flowering into fall but often decline after the first flush of summer blooms. They may not survive winter.
The main drawback of FYF foxgloves is they behave more like short-lived perennials or annuals. Each year you’ll need to replant from seed to maintain a flowering patch. However, avoiding the long wait for flowers may be worth it!
Tips for Getting First Year Blooms
If you already have types of foxglove that bloom every two years, try these tips to get some flowers to bloom this year:
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Sow seeds indoors very early—in January or February—and grow seedlings under lights to make bigger plants. Transplant outdoors several weeks before last frost. The goal is to maximize growth in year 1.
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Take advantage of mild climates – In zones 9-10, foxgloves may be more inclined to bloom in year 1. Start seeds in fall for early spring blooms.
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Grow in containers – The confined space and ideal growing conditions of containers can sometimes coax early blooms.
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Pinch back in midsummer – Pinching back the apical stem tip can encourage branching and quicker flowering in some biennials. However results are mixed with foxgloves.
While not guaranteed, these tactics may help push some first year flowers on standard biennial foxglove varieties. For best success, seek out FYF foxgloves.
Final Thoughts
With their stately spires and speckled throats, foxgloves bring whimsy and magic to any garden. While most varieties follow the traditional biennial timeline, newer FYF introductions allow home gardeners to enjoy foxglove blooms the very first season. Whether you opt for an old fashioned variety or new FYF type, a patch of foxgloves is sure to delight.
KNOWING AND GROWING FOXGLOVES
Foxgloves blooms May to June. Most foxglove plants are biennials. This means they have vegetative growth the first year and flower the second year.
Foxgloves need to be staked before the florets open. Once they open the weight of the flower can break the stalk.
Foxgloves do best in morning sun light with afternoon shade.
When it comes to pruning foxglove, remove the center flowering stalk after it blooms. This will enable the side stalks to have more energy to grow and bloom.
Cut foxgloves for arrangements just before the blooms reach their peak.
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FOXGLOVE FLOWER HISTORY AND FOLKLORE
There are many colorful stories about how the foxglove plant got its name. It has been around for hundreds of years. The name ‘foxglove’ seems to derive from one of two stories told in Scandinavia.
The first one says that fairies saved the foxes from extinction by teaching them how to ring the digitalis bells to warn other foxes of danger from hunters. When foxes came up to the chicken coop, they wore florets as gloves to make their steps quieter.
In Wales, digitalis was called Goblin’s Gloves because it was believed that hobgoblins wore the long bells on their fingers and they would impart magical elements to the wearer.
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Foxgloves are very beautiful on their own, but when accompanied with other flowers from the garden they can make a spectacular arrangement. Mix foxglove flowers in arrangements with others that may be blooming in your garden, such as, snapdragons, delphiniums, dahlias, irises, and lilies-of-the-valley.
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My Experience with Foxglove! // Garden Answer
FAQ
Will foxgloves bloom first year?
Perennial foxglove varieties flower in the first year. Biennial foxglove varieties can be planted in either spring or fall and bloom in their second year. We offer foxglove seeds of both types in a sophisticated color palette of pale pinks, cream, rose, lavender, and deep plum.
How long does it take for foxglove to flower?
Most types of foxglove are biennials; if the seed packet doesn’t say otherwise, you can assume they are. It usually takes about 360 days from sowing the seeds until they bloom. If you sow the seeds in May, you can expect them to bloom the FOLLOWING year in May.
What does foxglove look like the first year?
Most of the foxgloves grown at Longwood are biennials, which means that they grow a rosette of green, oblong leaves at the base of the plant in its first year and flowers the next year. We can get our foxgloves to bloom in less than a year, though, by following a precise method for growing and producing them.
What are the disadvantages of foxglove?
People who eat any part of the plant or make tea from the leaves are, in essence, taking an unregulated dose of heart medicine. This can cause the heart rate to slow down or become irregular. Both can be dangerous and life threatening. Foxglove is one of many reasons to watch children closely when they play outdoors.