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Are these foxgloves or something else? Plant ID

Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
edited August 2023 in Problem solving
I found loads and loads of this green plant that appeared out of nowhere in my flower bed. On the forum we thought they might be foxgloves, but now they are bigger and easier to ID I wanted to double check.
Just got so many of them!
Do we still think they are foxgloves, or if not, what are they?



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  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Still look like foxgloves to me.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Thank you punkdoc. I'm amazed at how many have suddenly appeared like this, when there weren't any foxgloves there before. It's actually quite convenient as it's under a californian liliac tree, and the area needed something there just to fill in the space.. There used to be a green plant there that suddenly died out. As if on cue, the foxgloves appear to fill in the space. Better than weeds!
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Definitely foxgloves. What a nice surprise. Enough to thin out and plant in other places.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited August 2023
    It’s what happens in woodland when trees are thinned out … the wild flower seeds  respond to the increased light levels … and voilà … you have flowers 😊

    I’d thin them out so they have plenty of space each .., about 9” apart … if you do it when the soil is damp after rain you can transplant at least 50% of them and you’ll have a wonderful display next May. 

    I hope you’ll show us some photos then 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • EustaceEustace Posts: 2,290
    Those in the second photo have white spots on the leaves. Makes me think there's some green alkanet also mixed in.
    Oxford. The City of Dreaming Spires.
    And then my heart with pleasure fills,
    And dances with the daffodils (roses). Taking a bit of liberty with Wordsworth :)

  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Thank you Busy-Lizzie and Dovefromabove (love the shooting stars reference if that was your intention!).
    I have so many, I'm not quite sure where I'd put the ones I thin out. I can think of one place where a clematis died out that could be good. I'm guessing they can get quite tall so at the back would be best.
    But I should definitely make the effort to thin them then - I suppose it's not a good idea to leave as-is?
    I certainly will show photos if still living at this house :)
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Ah Eustace I am new to alkanet. So you are thinking some alkanet, some foxgloves perhaps?  I don't want to thin out and remove the foxgloves and keep the alkanet which I'm thinking is a weed!
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    ‘Uvavu!’ @Pink678 😎 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited August 2023
    Alkanet will be slightly bristly whereas foxgloves may have soft hairs on the stems … more ‘downy’. 

    Yes do thin them .., you’ll get much better flowers. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • EustaceEustace Posts: 2,290
    Alkanet has taproots with thin black outer covering and pale yellow/orange inners.
    Oxford. The City of Dreaming Spires.
    And then my heart with pleasure fills,
    And dances with the daffodils (roses). Taking a bit of liberty with Wordsworth :)

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