Foxglove is a biennial grown for its purple blooms, which open in summer. It's hardy across USDA zones 4 through 8 and shrugs off deer. Its summer flowers are a real draw for honeybees, native bees, and hummingbirds.
Zones
4-8
pH Range
4.5-8.3
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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What Foxglove is
Foxglove grows as a biennial and reaches around four feet at maturity. It blooms purple in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Foxglove
Foxglove grows in USDA zones 4 through 8. Foxglove does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 8.3, on well-drained to fast-draining ground. It needs a growing season of at least 150 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
4-8
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 8.3
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
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Drainage
well (dry spells), excessive (dry/moderately dry)
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Frost Tolerance
37.4°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
4 ft
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Frost-Free Days
150+
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Start the season right
Plant foxglove in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Foxglove prefers pH 4.5 to 8.3 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut foxglove blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — foxglove is toxic to dogs and cats and horses (lethal severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Foxglove is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Foxglove thrives
Foxglove is hardy across USDA zones 4 through 8. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 4–8·Where Foxglove growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Foxglove can grow in these states:
See if Foxglove will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether foxglove actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Foxglove in my zone?
Foxglove grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Foxglove?
Most growers plant foxglove after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 150-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Foxglove need?
Foxglove needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Foxglove need?
Foxglove prefers soil pH 4.5 to 8.3, on well-drained to fast-draining ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Foxglove attract pollinators?
Yes — foxglove's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees, native bees, and hummingbirds (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Foxglove safe for pets?
Foxglove is toxic to pets (dogs,cats,horses) with lethal severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.