Six plants to grow with foxgloves

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Six plants to grow with foxgloves

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Tuesday, 6 August 2019 at 3:38 pm

We pick six stunning ways to combine foxgloves with other plants.

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Most of us will be familiar with the UK's native foxglove, Digitalis purpurea, but there are many other species you could grow, too, hailing from countries like Spain and Turkey.

This includes species like Digitalis parviflora, D. ferruginea and D. lanata. Despite their balmy origins, all are hardy and will enjoy growing in the same partially shady conditions as our native species. Bees will thank you, too.

Small-flowered foxglove and bronze fennel

Small-flowered foxglove and bronze fennel, The Savill Garden

Small-flowered foxglove (Digitalis parviflora) and bronze fennel (Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum')

Combine small-flowered foxglove (Digitalis parviflora) and bronze fennel (Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum') to create a display that is packed with intense, chocolate tones and textures.

Foxgloves, irises and hairy chervil

Strawberry foxgloves, bearded iris and hairy chervil

Here, strawberry foxgloves (Digitalis x mertonensis), Astrantia 'Roma' and hairy chervil (Chaerophyllum hirsutum) provide a soft pink foil for the star of the show, Iris 'Dutch Chocolate'.

Foxgloves, orlaya and greater quaking grass

Strawberry foxgloves, orlaya and greater quaking grass

This wildlife-friendly container includes strawberry foxgloves (Digitalis x mertonensis), white laceflower (Orlaya grandiflora), greater quaking grass (Briza maxima) and campanulas (Campanula glomerata). Perfect for a spot in partial shade.

Euphorbias, snowy woodrush and foxgloves

Euphorbias, snowy woodrush and Grecian foxgloves

By limiting the colour palette, this combination of Grecian foxgloves (Digitalis lanata), snowy woodrush (Luzula nivea) and euphorbia (Euphorbia x martini) focusses on the fluffy textures and soaring flower spikes.

Ferns, foxgloves and campanulas

This combination has a more natural, woodland feel, and is ideal for planting in dappled shade beneath trees. Similar foxglove cultivars you could grow include 'Sugar Plum' and 'Pam's Split'. Planted with the foxgloves are campanulas (Campanula rotundifolia), Japanese tassel fern (Polystichum) and deschampsia.

Rusty foxgloves, white valerian and alliums

Foxgloves, white valerian and alliums

Grecian foxgloves, white valerian and alliums

This combination uses Digitalis lanata again, where it provides lovely, burnt gold tones to the pairing. Here it's planted with white-flowered valerian (Centranthus) and Allium 'Purple Sensation'.

Caring for foxgloves

Foxgloves enjoy growing in a rich, well-draining soil, so keep them well-watered, right from the base of the plant. Don't forget to save the seed once flowering is over, as it's easy to grow foxgloves from seed.

Watering can

Best foxgloves to grow
Caring for foxgloves – Golden Rules (video)
How to sow foxglove seeds

Discover six ideas for plants to grow with foxgloves, below.