I love foxgloves. An up side to their toxicity is that deer won’t (usually) bother them, something that endears them to those of us who live in deer country.
It’s about 1000mtrs above Sydney and the coast. So go spring bulbs, Sasanqua, Azaleas, Rhodos, Jap maples etc etc. Check out Leura Garden Festival (in October- our Spring)
Foxgloves are a main element in our front patch. I bought two named cultivars years ago, one white and one purple and now we get a profusion of them every year, all self sown. Over time they have hybridised so you get ones combining elements of each as well as ones more like the originals. Unlike things like lupins slugs don't seem to fancy them at all so they're so little trouble. I did have a vigorous one last year which when it flowered turned out to be comfrey, so some potential confusion there!
ha yes, good point about the comfrey - learning to identify between foxglove, comfrey, green alkanet etc is one of gardening's most worthwhile lessons. I love the idea of your foxglove patch Feargal!
Hi Melissa! Yes they are all good for bees. And you can get first year plants, it’s a great way to start them off then let them self sow. I should have mentioned that.
Oh fab! I've got a new shady space to fill (dug up a horrible shrub). I'll have a look around the local garden centre. I'd love to fill it with foxgloves.
Foxgloves are one of my favourite flowers. We've established a patch in a shady corner of the garden, which I wasn't sure what to with. They seem to like it there and the only competition is from Alkanet which is regularly removed. Last Autumn, as usual, I looked round the garden for seedlings which I could transplant to the shady patch and for the first time, could only find a couple.
So I will definitely collect and germinate seed this Summer and look forward to a better show next year!
I love foxgloves. An up side to their toxicity is that deer won’t (usually) bother them, something that endears them to those of us who live in deer country.
Thanks Jack. Up here in Katoomba, Blue Mountains, Australia with a cooler climate, we have a lot to share. Including Foxgloves ☀️
In the UK we always think of Australia as really hot and dry, but of course, it's a huge continent! lol Is it quite a lush area?
It’s about 1000mtrs above Sydney and the coast. So go spring bulbs, Sasanqua, Azaleas, Rhodos, Jap maples etc etc. Check out Leura Garden Festival (in October- our Spring)
https://www.leuragardensfestival.com/
Really enjoying your posts 🍃
And the cliffs are amazing
My morning walk is very beautiful
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGm2fjxvKaK/?igsh=MWNpMTFqbWVtdTZubg==
Foxgloves are a main element in our front patch. I bought two named cultivars years ago, one white and one purple and now we get a profusion of them every year, all self sown. Over time they have hybridised so you get ones combining elements of each as well as ones more like the originals. Unlike things like lupins slugs don't seem to fancy them at all so they're so little trouble. I did have a vigorous one last year which when it flowered turned out to be comfrey, so some potential confusion there!
ha yes, good point about the comfrey - learning to identify between foxglove, comfrey, green alkanet etc is one of gardening's most worthwhile lessons. I love the idea of your foxglove patch Feargal!
Thanks Jack! What about the perennial ones, are they as good for bees?
Also, are second year plants sold in nurseries - can I get some in now, ready to flower this year?
Hi Melissa! Yes they are all good for bees. And you can get first year plants, it’s a great way to start them off then let them self sow. I should have mentioned that.
Oh fab! I've got a new shady space to fill (dug up a horrible shrub). I'll have a look around the local garden centre. I'd love to fill it with foxgloves.
Foxgloves are one of my favourite flowers. We've established a patch in a shady corner of the garden, which I wasn't sure what to with. They seem to like it there and the only competition is from Alkanet which is regularly removed. Last Autumn, as usual, I looked round the garden for seedlings which I could transplant to the shady patch and for the first time, could only find a couple.
So I will definitely collect and germinate seed this Summer and look forward to a better show next year!
They're funny, sometimes they find the right patch and can form dense colonies, but usually they just pop up randomly where they can get a root in.