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Digitalis purpurea ‘Sugar Plum’ (Common Foxglove)

Common Foxglove 'Sugar Plum', Foxglove 'Sugar Plum', Lady's Glove 'Sugar Plum'

Digitalis Purpurea Sugar Plum, Common Foxglove Sugar Plum, Sugar Plum Foxglove, Foxglove Sugar Plum, Lady's Glove Sugar Plum, Pink floxgloves

Digitalis purpurea ‘Sugar Plum’ (Common Foxglove) is a biennial boasting upright spikes of bright pink, bell-shaped flowers with heavily speckled, dark purple throats. Blooming profusely in early summer, the flowers are closely spaced on the stems, creating a strong color effect in the garden. They are attractive to hummingbirds, which hover near the tubular blossoms, and to birds which flock to the seedheads in the fall. The plant forms large rosettes of downy, dark green, oval leaves in the first year, bursting into flower the second spring, then setting seed and usually dying. 

  • Grows up to 30-42 in. high (75-105 cm) and 12-24 in. wide (30-60 cm).
  • Performs best in full sun to part shade, in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Prefers a humus-rich soil in partial shade, but will grow in full sun. Deer, rabbit tolerant.
  • Easy to grow, this Foxglove is a welcomed addition to beds and borders, cottage gardens or naturalized areas. Perfect foil in front of shrubs or dark backgrounds. For best visual impact, plant Floxgloves in groups of 3 to 4 plants.
  • Propagation is recommended by letting the plant self-seed and using the resulting plantlets. It may also be grown from seed, but will take 2 years to flower.
  • Keep an eye out for aphids, leaf and bud eelworm, leaf spots and powdery mildew.
  • Highly toxic by ingestion. Wear gloves and wash hands after handling.
  • Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses, toxic to humans.
  • Digitalis purpurea is native to and widespread throughout most of temperate Europe.
  • Find where Digitalis purpurea species is invasive in the United States.
  • Discover beautiful U.S. native plant alternatives.

Foxglove: How to Grow and Care with Success


Want to learn how to grow and care for foxgloves like a pro? Follow these simple steps and enjoy the beauty of these striking plants

Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A2, A3
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Plantaginaceae
Genus Digitalis
Common names Fairy Gloves, Witches' Bells, Bloody Finger, Fairy Fingers, Foxglove
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early, Mid)
Height 2' - 4'
(60cm - 120cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" - 24"
(50cm - 60cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy, Semi-Evergreen
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Small Gardens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Digitalis obscura (Sunset Foxglove)
Digitalis grandiflora ‘Carillon’ (Dwarf Yellow Foxglove)
Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora (White-Flowered Foxglove)
Digitalis x mertonensis ‘Summer King’ (Strawberry Foxglove)
Digitalis purpurea ‘Polkadot Princess’ (Common Foxglove)
Digitalis x valinii Foxlight™ Plum Gold (Foxglove)

Recommended Companion Plants

Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern)
Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’ (Autumn Fern)
Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ (Hakone Grass)
Astrantia major ‘Alba’ (Great Masterwort)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

30 Great Perennials for Shade
For the Love of Bees: Best Flowers to Attract them to Your Garden
How to Cultivate a Thriving Bee-Friendly Garden
Digitalis (Foxglove)
Native Plant Alternatives to Digitalis purpurea (Common Foxglove)
Foxglove: How to Grow and Care with Success
Best Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A2, A3
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Plantaginaceae
Genus Digitalis
Common names Fairy Gloves, Witches' Bells, Bloody Finger, Fairy Fingers, Foxglove
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early, Mid)
Height 2' - 4'
(60cm - 120cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" - 24"
(50cm - 60cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy, Semi-Evergreen
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Small Gardens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Digitalis (Foxglove)
Not sure which Digitalis (Foxglove) to pick?
Compare Now

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