Foxgloves,cut back?

Nikoz · July 2023

Now the foxgloves are over do I get rid of them or just cut back and hope they regrow? How do you know if they are ones that grow back next year or just seed and die? Thanks

Busy-Lizzie · July 2023

Ordinary foxgloves are usually biennial, sow the seed the first year and they flower the second year. Occasionally they last through the winter and flower again. I leave the flowered stems until the seeds are ripe then I cut them down, but most often the plant dies anyway. Sometimes it doesn't. Anyway, I then have seeds for the next sowing. often the seed themselves and I transplant baby plants where I want them.

bédé · July 2023

My best seeding results come from letting the seeds scattter and germinate without my input. Sometimes ayear 2 plant just has that look that says, "I will flower again."

Pete.8 · July 2023

I have sometimes left a few in the less well maintained part of my garden to flower for a 2nd year and they do - but the flower spike reaches only about 1-2ft and looks a bit pathetic.
I let them self-seed then pull out the seedlings where I don't want them to get good 6-7ft plants the following year.

Nikoz · July 2023

Thanks for your imput everyone,will leave them to scatter their seed then cut back a bit.

februarysgirl · July 2023

I have some foxgloves (my first ones) and I read that if you cut the main stem after it's finished flowing, smaller side stems will grow. Wasn't overly convinced but had a go anyway and a good few weeks after I cut the main stems back, I still have flowers and more side shoots growing. Not sure though whether that's more typical of the variety I have though. The variety I have is an F1 so no point leaving it to self seed anyway.

rowlandscastle444 · July 2023

februarysgirl said:

I have some foxgloves (my first ones) and I read that if you cut the main stem after it's finished flowing, smaller side stems will grow. Wasn't overly convinced but had a go anyway and a good few weeks after I cut the main stems back, I still have flowers and more side shoots growing. Not sure though whether that's more typical of the variety I have though. The variety I have is an F1 so no point leaving it to self seed anyway.

I always cut off the flowering stems, and much to my father's surprise, get a second flowering. It's good for the bees, and if I can encourage the bees to return, I'm chuffed. I cut the plants back each year, and they regrow and provide better flowers each time.

Lyn · July 2023

I cut some foxgloves down by half as there were some more flowers to come, when they’d finished I cut them to the ground, there were ladybirds nesting in the hollow stalks. I’m leaving the rest.

Foxgloves,cut back?

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