Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Perennial Foxglove

Robert WestRobert West Posts: 241
in Plants
Hello

I planted a perennial Foxglove last year. It did well and then died back for the winter. At the moment there is no sign of it returning. I was just wondering whether anyone knew when I should expect to see new growth? I've only ever had biennial ones previously. 

Thanks in advance. 
«1

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I believe some of these 'perennials' aren't quite as perennial as we've been led to think. It may also depend on your conditions @Robert West . It might just still be dormant.

    If you know what one you have, there may be someone who can advise you better about it  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Robert WestRobert West Posts: 241
    Yeah I was worried about that. Especially after all the wet weather. I'll dig out the label to see what type it is/was 
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    The perennial foxgloves that I bought in 2022 didn't survive the winter but some of my biennial ordinary ones flowered 2 years running and they have seeded themselves.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • muckyhandsmikemuckyhandsmike Posts: 239
    My experience with foxgloves is that they do exactly as they want. In my gardens I’ve had them growing wild all over the place one year and nothing much the next ….
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    That's because they are mostly biennial @muckyhandsmike, sown one year, flower the next year. If you sow some in between the you should get them every year. @Robert West was asking whether his perennial ones should be showing yet. I don't know as mine died.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited 10 March
    I think it very much depends on the cultivar. The Digiplex series (Illumination), for example, is sold as perennial but does not seem to be at all hardy. Lots of people on the forum have said they have not been able to over-winter it, even in mild winters. I lost all of mine and if I bought Illumination again, I would treat the plants as annuals as I don't have a greenhouse.


  • Robert WestRobert West Posts: 241
    edited 10 March
    I'm not at home at the moment to check the label but it's definitely an Illumination (thanks @Fire for ringing a bell!). Sold as a perennial but I'm guessing it's a goner. Shall have to think of an alternative. Thanks all for your help. 
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    There are some reliably perennial ones [ although usually nor long lived. I have had D.parviflora for several years, D. grandiflora usually lasts several years.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    Digitalis lutea is a reliable perennial foxglove as well.

    I think the illumination foxgloves are crosses between our native species and the species from the canary islands, which gives a clue to its less than hardy experiences. 
    If they do survive they should be relatively evergreen and would definitely be showing signs of some growth now.
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    Totally agree with @thevictorian ; Digitalis lutea is a good reliable perennial .
Sign In or Register to comment.